Pakistani probe agency saw 5 chiefs in 30 months
June 22nd, 2011 - 6:08 pm ICT by IANSIslamabad, June 22 (IANS) Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has had five chiefs heading it within a short span of two-and-a-half years.
Five of the FIA’s chiefs have been changed within two-and-a-half years, depicting the non-seriousness of the government in combating terrorism, Dawn reported Wednesday.
Sources said two FIA heads were removed for not toeing Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s line, while three others quit after they invited the Supreme Court’s ire for following wrong policies of the government under pressure.
This development goes contrary to the Police Order 2002 which ensures a secure tenure of the FIA chief for a period of at least three years.
The frequent replacement of the FIA directors general is said to have affected the agency’s counter-terrorism strategy.
According to ex-FIA director general Tariq Khosa, inconsistency in the service of the agency’s head badly harmed the investigation process in terrorism-related cases.
“Continuous transfers and postings of FIA DGs have also affected investigation into white-collar crimes,” he said.
Khosa was reportedly investigating cases of ruling party leaders and served the FIA for one year - from 2008 to 2009. After the Supreme Court expressed dismay over his removal, Khosa was reappointed the FIA chief.
According to senior journalist and security analyst Zahid Hussain, the Pakistan government had no counter-terrorism policy; as a result, the country was facing the worst spate of terror attacks.
The FIA, presently is without a chief and the Pakistan government is searching for a suitable officer to head it.
Islamabad’s Inspector General Binyamin, a close aide of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, is reportedly eyeing the FIA top slot.
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Tags: combating terrorism, counter terrorism, dgs, federal investigation, fia, frequent replacement, interior minister, investigation agency, investigation process, pakistan government, party leaders, ruling party, s line, security analyst, spate, terror attacks, top slot, two and a half years, white collar crimes, zahid hussain