ISLAMABAD: According to a media source, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially tasked the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with screening government officials before their induction, appointments, postings, and promotions. "The government has provided legal cover to a practice that had already been in place, but had not been formalised as part of the protocol," as per reports.
"In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section 1 of section 25 of the Civil Servants Act 1973, read with notification No. SRO 120 (1)/1998, the Prime Minister is pleased to notify Directorate General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) for verification and screening of all Public Office Holders (Officers Category)," the Establishment Division said in a notification. The ISI and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) both give information about public officials before they are assigned to significant responsibilities, according to an officer from the Establishment Division. When officials are promoted, reports are specifically sent to the Central Selection Board (CSB).
The practice has continued despite the fact that superior courts have previously dismissed such intelligence reports, citing the Civil Officials Act's lack of a legal requirement for agency screening of civil servants.
Despite the notification, the official said that the Intelligence Bureau will continue to transmit reports as usual. According to the source, since the government has now given legal effect to ISI reports, they can now be utilised in courts as a real legal document.
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