Bend it like PSP


By Ansar Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: History is apparently being re-written for a junior VVIP to fulfil his aspiration of joining the Police Service of Pakistan.

Sources told The News on Wednesday that the government is considering a unique case of a provincial government servant, who is the offspring of a constitutional office holder, for his permanent induction into the Police Service of Pakistan. Prime Minister's Secretariat sources confirmed that the file has already been moved to amend the police rules to make the impossible possible in this case.

Most of the officials are keeping a complete mum on the issue, fearing that they might lose their job in case they opened up their lips. The sources said the case is of a provincial health department official, who had done his degree in medicine. The official seeks his induction into the Police Service of Pakistan.

A source said that last year the official was appointed in the Federal Investigation Agency on deputation from where he was sent to the National Police Academy for specialised police training that was meant for the fresh police officers (ASPs) inducted through the CSS.

Now, the sources said, there is a move to get him inducted into the PSP and, according to the sources, the PM Secretariat has already consulted the Establishment Division on the subject. The ED informed the PM Secretariat that under the present situation there was no legal provision to make any such induction in BS-17 in the Police Service of Pakistan, the sources added.

The Police Service of Pakistan (Composition, Cadre and Seniority) Rules, the PM Secretariat was told, provided for induction into the PSP through three avenues -- the central superior Services (CSS) competition; induction of armed forces officers as ASPs against prescribed quota through Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC); and encadrement of provincial police officers.

Since there was no legal means available to get any other category of government servants, including provincial employee inducted into the PSP, the PM Secretariat is now considering amending the PSP (Composition, Cadre and Seniority) Rules.

The government is contemplating to add a provision to these rules whereby any government servant, including a provincial government employee, could be inducted into the PSP. The prime minister, who has been delegated by the president authority to make or amend such rules, is the competent authority to take the final decision that according to the sources if approved would open a new arena for backdoor induction of junior VVIPs in the Police Service of Pakistan.

According to one source, the official being considered for induction into the PSP had flunked thrice in the CSS competition. The source said that some officials concerned in the PM Secretariat have even got it confirmed from the FPSC that after his third failed attempt the said official approached a high court against the FPSC.

His sealed English paper was produced before the court for the first time ever and it was found that he got only 15 marks out of 100. It is also said that the official was also a unique FIA inductee to have been allowed specialised police training with ASPs in the national police academy.



THE NEWS.