A few days earlier, Syeda Marzia Zehra became the first female station manager of Pakistan Railways only to be stripped of her position within a few hours.
The female officer from Pakistan’s Central Superior Service’s Railways Group couldn’t retain her position as Lahore Station Manager as a union of station masters allegedly severely opposed her appointment.
According to reports, the PRs’ administration immediately withdrew the appointment of Zehra as station manager, which was in addition to her existing responsibility as assistant transportation officer-1 (ATO-1), PRs’ Lahore Division, allegedly under the pressure of the union.
“On Friday, the PR administration issued a notification, entrusting Ms Zehra with the charge of Lahore Station Manager. On this, the station masters association protested the decision of appointing a CSS (Central Superior Services) officer on the seat of station manager that is meant to be filled temporarily or permanently by the officials of the cadre of the station master. Finally, she couldn’t retain her charge even for a full day,” an official source said.
Source further said, “Appointment of a CSS woman officer as Lahore station manager and taking the chargeback from her within seven to eight hours has happened for the first time in the history of railways in this subcontinent.”
“The powerful station masters’ union didn’t bear her even for a full day. And finally, the admin surrendered before it,” the source added.
Reportedly, Zehra had gotten the position after PR’s Lahore division admin removed Younas Bhatti from the office.
According to Zehra, the PR administration withdrew the notification of her appointment on the evening of August 7.
