Management issues: Half a dozen FIA directors missing for over a year

‘The staff shortage is affecting the agency in dealing with cases’.

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been short of six directors for over a year, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The shortage of directors (BS-20) has affected the agency in dealing with corruption cases and white collar crimes, according to a letter sent by Interior Ministry Deputy Secretary Khalil Ahmed to Establishment Division (ED) Deputy Secretary Naveed Ashraf on February 28, 2014.

The letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, said the Establishment Division (ED) should convene a meeting of Central Selection Board (CSB) to consider promoting FIA additional directors to fill the six vacant posts.

The letter stated that the promotion of additional directors could not be taken up during a CSB meeting on February 12, 2014, as Interior Secretary Shahid Khan was in Turkey on an official visit.

“Some of the officers in the panel are likely to reach the age of superannuation… the Establishment Department is therefore requested to convene a meeting of the CSB at the earliest,” the letter said.

Punjab FIA Director Usman Anwar told The Express Tribune that the FIA, the Ministry of Interior and the Establishment Department were on the same page in regards to filling the vacant posts of FIA directors.

He said he expected a CSB meeting soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.