FIA accountability drive intensifies as Islamabad zone punishes 76 officers

The latest action followed an Orderly Room chaired by Bokhari, where more than 200 officers were summoned for scrutiny. The proceedings were

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency’s internal accountability campaign has entered another significant phase as Islamabad Zone Director Syed Shahzad Nadeem Bokhari ordered penalties against 76 officials, including the dismissal of 10 employees and demotion of eight others.

The latest action followed an Orderly Room chaired by Bokhari, where more than 200 officers were summoned for scrutiny. The proceedings were conducted under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020, according to official sources.

Among those dismissed were Sub-Inspector Hassan Ali, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mubashir Kazmi, UDC Muhammad Soban, Head Constables Tahir Mahmood, Melvin Masih and Muhammad Bilal, and Constables Tahir Safir, Muhammad Ahmed Raza, Aqib Mahmood and another official named Tahir Mahmood.

Eight officials were also demoted. ASI Muhammad Niaz Mir and Muhammad Waseem Iqbal were reduced to the rank of head constable, while UDC Shiraz Manzoor was demoted to LDC. Five head constables — Rizwan Ali Khan, Masood Ahmed, Mudassar Ali, Almas Ilyas and Qasim Mahmood — were reduced to the rank of constable.

Sources said the departmental proceedings also resulted in other penalties, including stoppage of promotions and reductions in pay. Nineteen officials had their promotions withheld for three years, 27 for two years and five for one year. One official faced a three-stage pay cut, while six others were censured.

Three officials were also recognised for good performance and awarded Class-II Commendation Certificates.

Director Bokhari said the agency was operating under a strict system of “Saza and Jaza”, with disciplinary action being taken when allegations were established through complaints, intelligence or surveillance mechanisms.

He said cases involving corruption, criminal negligence, connivance, losses to the national exchequer or alleged misappropriation of recovered money could result in dismissal and criminal proceedings rather than suspension alone.

The Islamabad action comes against the backdrop of a wider accountability campaign within the FIA. Official data cited by the agency shows that 214 officials were punished during the last four months of 2025. Of these, 76 were dismissed, nine were demoted and two were removed from service, while 127 received other departmental penalties.

According to the data, immigration-related complaints accounted for around 20 per cent of the cases, another 20 per cent involved faulty investigations, while approximately 40 per cent related to indiscipline and inefficiency.

The FIA also reported that 88 officials were dismissed during 2025 over allegations involving corruption and breaches of discipline. Those proceeded against included two deputy directors, six assistant directors, 13 inspectors and 20 sub-inspectors.

The accountability mechanism was further reorganised with the establishment of the Directorate of Internal Accountability (DIA) at FIA Headquarters in August 2025. The directorate was tasked with bringing preliminary inquiries, fact-finding proceedings and departmental investigations under a more centralised accountability structure.

The agency subsequently introduced a digital monitoring mechanism to track inquiries from the registration of complaints through final disposal and appeals, enabling senior officers to monitor the progress of cases.

The intensified scrutiny followed concerns over FIA officials’ alleged involvement in human smuggling networks exposed after deadly migrant boat tragedies in Europe and Africa. The agency also faced broader institutional governance concerns highlighted in the IMF’s November 2025 Governance and Corruption Diagnostic on Pakistan.

Accountability powers were subsequently delegated to additional directors general and zonal directors, enabling them to proceed against officials up to Grade 16. The powers have since been used in disciplinary proceedings at the zonal level.

Earlier actions included proceedings against 19 FIA officials, six of whom were dismissed in cases involving alleged misconduct. Among the cases cited by the agency were allegations against Inspector Maria Niaz over unauthorised occupation of a government residence, SI Kashif Riaz Awan over alleged protection of an organ-trafficking network and SIs Tasaddaq Hussain and Ahmad Waqar over alleged illegal raids.

The agency has also taken action against officials accused of abusing immigration powers. In one earlier accountability drive, 85 FIA officials were penalised over allegations linked to passenger offloading and misuse of authority, including an allegation involving a Rs500,000 bribe at Lahore airport.

An Orderly Room held on January 1, 2025, had also resulted in proceedings against 16 officials, with 10 receiving penalties and six being warned over allegations including corruption, poor investigation and unauthorised absence.

The latest Islamabad proceedings indicate that the agency’s internal accountability mechanism remains active under DG Dr Usman Anwar. The FIA is simultaneously pursuing cases against officials outside the agency, including a recent case involving 58 CDA officials over alleged land irregularities.

The latest action therefore places renewed focus on the FIA’s effort to strengthen internal oversight, with departmental penalties increasingly accompanied by the prospect of criminal proceedings where allegations involve financial misconduct or other offences.

Bokhari said the agency would continue to distinguish between misconduct requiring disciplinary action and cases warranting criminal proceedings, while officials demonstrating exceptional performance would also be recognised through commendations, financial rewards and promotions.