Court judgement: FIA sends packing 34 officers
These officials had used political contacts to get transferred in the agency.
These officials had used political contacts to get transferred in the agency. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has returned the services of 34 officers on deputation to their parent departments on Friday in compliance with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders.
The process of preparing a list of more than 150 officials still serving in FIA on deputation has been started, sources familiar with the matter revealed to The Express Tribune.
In this connection the Establishment Division, Ministry of Interior and the FIA Headquarters have also issued notifications in compliance of the IHC and Supreme Court orders, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The contents of the interior ministry’s notification vide No57/2012-Estt-FIA reads, “In pursuance of Islamabad High Court orders passed in Writ Petition No2703/2013 and consequent upon approval of the competent authority 34 officers/officials are attached/repatriated in their parent departments with immediate effect.”
In search of greener pastures
All these officers were working on grade 16 to 19 and they had got themselves transferred in the powerful investigation agency against the rules with the help of influential persons in the PPP government. Some of these officers had come from traditionally ‘dry’ departments like Pakistan Arts Council, Punjab Arts Council and Evacuee Trust Property Board. Others were from highly transparent organisations like Nadra.
However some officer chose to get transferred to FIA from ‘lucrative’ positions in Income Tax, Bank of Punjab, Employees Old Age Benefit Institution, Information Department Punjab, Intelligence Bureau, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Public Works Department, and Punjab Prisons Department.
IHC judgment
In its judgment the IHC had declared that the deputation of these officers in FIA followed by absorption is based on political considerations that were unprecedented, illegal, unconstitutional and against the principles of transparency, fairness and merit.
These officers are directed to repatriate to their parent departments in the grade they were holding prior to coming to the FIA, the judgement said.
IHC directed that when these officers return to their departments concerned the post which becomes vacant may be filled through promotion on the principle of seniority-cum-fitness.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has returned the services of 34 officers on deputation to their parent departments on Friday in compliance with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders.
The process of preparing a list of more than 150 officials still serving in FIA on deputation has been started, sources familiar with the matter revealed to The Express Tribune.
In this connection the Establishment Division, Ministry of Interior and the FIA Headquarters have also issued notifications in compliance of the IHC and Supreme Court orders, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The contents of the interior ministry’s notification vide No57/2012-Estt-FIA reads, “In pursuance of Islamabad High Court orders passed in Writ Petition No2703/2013 and consequent upon approval of the competent authority 34 officers/officials are attached/repatriated in their parent departments with immediate effect.”
In search of greener pastures
All these officers were working on grade 16 to 19 and they had got themselves transferred in the powerful investigation agency against the rules with the help of influential persons in the PPP government. Some of these officers had come from traditionally ‘dry’ departments like Pakistan Arts Council, Punjab Arts Council and Evacuee Trust Property Board. Others were from highly transparent organisations like Nadra.
However some officer chose to get transferred to FIA from ‘lucrative’ positions in Income Tax, Bank of Punjab, Employees Old Age Benefit Institution, Information Department Punjab, Intelligence Bureau, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Public Works Department, and Punjab Prisons Department.
IHC judgment
In its judgment the IHC had declared that the deputation of these officers in FIA followed by absorption is based on political considerations that were unprecedented, illegal, unconstitutional and against the principles of transparency, fairness and merit.
These officers are directed to repatriate to their parent departments in the grade they were holding prior to coming to the FIA, the judgement said.
IHC directed that when these officers return to their departments concerned the post which becomes vacant may be filled through promotion on the principle of seniority-cum-fitness.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.