ISI to screen public office holders before appointments, promotions

ISLAMABAD: Top secret agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been given a key responsibility by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to screen and verify the public office holders before their appointments and promotions.

The top spy agency, ISI was granted a special status of ‘Special Vetting Agency (SVA)’ and a notification was issued by the Establishment Division following the approval of PM Sharif.

The induction, postings, appointments and promotions of the senior government officers will be made after the ISI screening.

The decision was taken by the premier under sub-section (1) of Section 25 of the Civil Servants Act 1973 (LXXI of 1973, read with Notification No. S.R.O. 120(I)/1998, dated 27th February 1998.

Criticising the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government, Asad Ali Toor tweeted, “Historic day in struggle of civilian supremacy, PM @CMShehbaz surrendered all appointments/posting/promotions of civilian officers/public office holders to #ISI on name of “special vetting agency for verification / screening.” Gives unprecedented influence on civilian authorities!”

Historic day in struggle of civilian supremacy, PM @CMShehbaz surrendered all appointments/posting/promotions of civilian officers/public office holders to #ISI on name of “special vetting agency for verification/screening.” Gives unprecedented influence on civilian authorities! pic.twitter.com/FnfHqvhA7p

— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) June 3, 2022

Azaz Syed wrote on Twitter, “Initially civilian spy agency Intelligence Bureau (#IB) was vetting n screening agency 4 the induction, appointment, posting and transfers of civilian officers in http://Pak. Now #ISI is empowered and declared as Special Vetting Agency (SVA) by @CMShehbaz 4 the same.”

.Initially civilian spy agency Intelligence Bureau(#IB)was vetting n screening agency 4 the induction,appointment,posting and transfers of civilian officers in https://t.co/oKGDo95nFy #ISI is empowered and declared as Special Vetting Agency(SVA)by @CMShehbaz 4 the same. pic.twitter.com/xlVv7eACLi

— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) June 3, 2022

“This is a terrible thing to do. This is exactly how civilian and political institutions undermine themselves and then complain that their authority is compromised,” Syed Talat Hussain said.

This is a terrible thing to do. This is exactly how civilian and political institutions undermine themselves and then complain that their authority is compromised. pic.twitter.com/I2XoVsidvb

— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) June 3, 2022

ان آزمائشی لمحات میں جب ہر کوئی فتنہ انگیز ماحول بنا رہا ہے, سب سے زیادہ قابل اعتماد بوٹ پالشی وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف نے بوٹ کا احترام بحال کر دیا۔

مسلم لیگ ن کو اپنے ووٹروں سے ووٹ کو عزت دو کا جھوٹ بولنے کا صلہ ضرور ملے گا۔ pic.twitter.com/LsYK302KPA

— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) June 4, 2022