PESHAWAR: The employees of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have refused to take proficiency test, terming it illegal and against the law.
The NAB employees, who have been serving as steno-typists (BPS-14), assistant private secretaries (BPS-16) and private secretaries (BPS-17) for 15 years, have refused to take the proficiency test, claiming that they were being victimised.
“We are being harassed and forced to take the proficiency test. The purpose of the test is to pressure hundreds of employees across the country not to demand their due rights,” a NAB employee said.
The employees feared they would lose their jobs if they failed the test. They said that Assistant Private Secretary Saqib Rehman went on Leave Prior to Retirement (LPR) due to harassment and pressure.
They said other employees were also considering going on LPR if they were forced to take the test. In October 2017, the chairman NAB had issued policy guidelines for promotions and appointments in the NAB.
He had ordered the steno-typists, assistant private secretaries and private secretaries to take the proficiency test as he had expressed dissatisfaction over their performance. “They would be given three months to improve shorthand to the level of the requisite speed. After three months a test will be conducted to assess their value for retention.
