Social Media is not very happy with Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan’s outburst against Assistant Commissioner Sonia Sadaf and has triggered an angry response on social media. Many are calling for the Punjab chief minister’s special assistant to apologize to the civil servant.
The uncomfortable incident took place when Awan was on a visit to a Ramadan bazaar in the city a day earlier.
During her visit, she got angry when some buyers complained about substandard edibles being sold at the market and the local administration’s poor performance and asked the assistant commissioner if she had ever visited the bazaar before and chastise her severely in front of the media.
After attempting to explain herself a few times, the AC then left the scene angrily and had reportedly said that the conversation could have been held in a civilized manner.
Politicians and senior government functionaries condemned how Awan shouted at Sadaf.
In a matter of few hours, the video of the harsh exchange went viral on social media after which statements were issued in support of the female officer by the prime minister’s aide Usman Dar, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and graduates of the Civil Services Academy (CSA).
Without any hesitation, they did not mince their words and said they stood with Sadaf, asking Awan to apologise for her behaviour.
“A PAS officer was publicly humiliated. This is a criminal act.”
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar expressed his concerns over the Sialkot incident. He said he knew the assistant commissioner, adding that she is an efficient and competent officer.
سیالکوٹ کے رمضان بازار میں اسسٹنٹ کمشنر سونیا صدف کے ساتھ پیش آئے ناخوشگوار واقعے پر افسوس ہوا! میں ذاتی طورپر اسسٹنٹ کمشنر سونیا صدف کو جانتا ہوں وہ ذمہ دار اور قابل آفیسر ہیں! خواتین کا ہمارے معاشرے کے گورننس سسٹم میں کردار انتہائی خوش آئیند ہے جسے سراہا جانا چاہیئے!
— Usman Dar (@UdarOfficial) May 2, 2021
On the other hand, PML-N Senior vice president Maryam Nawaz said civil servants and bureaucrats get appointed to any administrative position after excelling in studies and passing competitive exams.
سول سرونٹس اور بیوروکریٹس پڑھ لکھ کر، محنت کر کے، مقابلے کے امتحان پاس کر کے اس مقام تک پہنچتے ہیں، SELECT ہو کر نہیں آتے۔ وزیر ہونے کا مطلب یہ نہیں ہے کہ آپ کو افسران کی تذلیل کا لائسنس مل گیا ہے۔ یہ رعونت قابل قبول نہیں۔ سونیا صدف سے معافی مانگیے
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 2, 2021
She said they were not “selected” to the posts while taking a dig at the government and that any minister or the chief minister’s special assistant had no right to insult any officer and demanded Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan tender an apology to AC Sonia Sadaf.
اپنی ناکامی اور بدترین ارکردگی کا غصہ سرکاری افسران پر نکالنا فرعونیت ہے۔رمضان بازاروں ميں غير معياری،مہنگی اشياء حکومتی نالائقی کا منہ بولتا ثبوت ہیں۔سرکاری افسران آپ کے ذاتی ملازم نہیں۔سيالکوٹ کے رمضان بازار ميں خاتون اسسٹنٹ کمشنر سونیا صدف کے ساتھ ہونے والا سلوک قابل مذمت ہے۔
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) May 2, 2021
Later on, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik, while reacting to the Sialkot incident, said that the uncivilised treatment meted out to an administrative officer in a Ramadan bazaar was condemnable.
He said that the use of unethical language with any officer or staff is condemnable and added that administrative offices across Punjab were present in the field day and night for the convenience of people, which is highly appreciable.
