ISLAMABAD: It is correct that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of Pakistan is not a notified division of the Government of Pakistan like many other divisions. However, its chief has always enjoyed a unique position in the administrative hierarchy of the government, especially those handpicked by political bosses.
In the recent past, Brigadier Ejaz Shah was very close to President Pervez Musharraf, Major Masood Sharif was close to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Brigadier Imtiaz was close to Mian Nawaz Sharif. The present director-general, being an officer of the Police Service of Pakistan is a low-profile chief.
There is widespread misunderstanding that the IB enjoys autonomy in financial matters. The fact is that for financial accountability, the secretary of the Cabinet Division has been notified as the principal accounting officer for the Intelligence Bureau, and all of its expenditures are scrutinised by the financial adviser, Cabinet Division. The Bureau cannot spend a paisa without sanction from a competent authority in the finance division.
Asghar Mahmood
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2013.
