Bureaucrat sets off fury with PTI-Taliban analogy

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday issued directives to open inquiry against a senior joint secretary of the Cabinet Division for posting "objectionable comments" against the government on a social media platform.The inquiry against Hammad Shamimi - a grade 21 officer – will be conducted by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director-General Dr Sanaullah Abbasi.

The bureaucrat drew similarities between the Taliban and the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).According to a statement by the Establishment Division, Shamimi’s comment violated the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the guidelines the Establishment Division had issued for the government servants regarding the use of social media. 

“A similarity between the PTI and the Taliban is that both are figuring out how to run the government only after assuming power. And the centre of hope for both of them is Aabpara,” it quoted Shamimi as saying in social media post.A separate notification by the division confirmed that an inquiry had been ordered against the BS-21 officer.

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"The Prime Minister in his capacity as 'Authority' is pleased to appoint Mr Sanaullah Abbasi (PSWBS-22), Director General, FIA, Islamabad, as Inquiry Officer to conduct inquiry proceedings against Mr Hammad Shamimi (SGTBS-21), Senior Joint Secretary, Cabinet Division, Islamabad," it read.

The communiqué set the timeframe of the inquiry as "within 60 days", saying "the inquiry officer must submit a probe report to the Authority within seven days of the completion of the inquiry with clear findings".

In August this year, the government had barred its employees from using social media platforms. As per the notification, no government employee would participate in any activity on a platform without prior permission.

The order had also explained that the directives didn't mean to discourage a "constructive or positive" use of media, such as to engage people to receive feedback on an official policy or suggestions to improve service delivery and resolve complaints.