Leaking information to press: FIA warns officials of prosecution under Official Secrets Act
KARACHI, August 21 2005: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has warned its officials not to pass on official information to the press or any unauthorised persons, otherwise they will be proceeded against under the Official Secrets Act.
In an official letter sent to deputy directors of all the circles of Karachi Zone, deputy director of the FIA Quetta and the assistant director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell, FIA officials have been told that those conveying official information to the press without permission of the competent authority will be proceeded against under the Official Secrets Act of 1923.
The letter No g-535/2005/b-9836-53 sent by a high FIA official to the agencyÂ’s officials says: “It has been brought to my notice that official reports inconsistent with facts are being disseminated to the press/unauthorised persons. Heads of all the circles and sections should ensure that no official information is disseminated/conveyed to the press/ private persons without permission of the competent authority.”
The heads of all the circles have been asked to ensure that the instructions should be followed strictly and warned: “Any officer/official if found responsible for contravening the above instruction shall render himself liable to criminal prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, besides departmental action under the Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance will be taken.”
Sources in the FIA told the Daily Times that the instructions had been issued after publishing of news about alleged London suicide bombers’ visit to Pakistan and earlier reports regarding FIA raids on factories manufacturing computer CDs (compact disks).
Some of the press reports suggest that the cases against the CDs manufacturers have been put in cold storage, whereas other reports suggest that high-ranking FIA officers, including some deputy directors, received heavy bribes in the CDs case and the National Accountability Bureau has initiated inquires against them.
When the Daily Times contacted an officer in the Crime Circle of the FIA by phone, quoting the contents of the official letter, he refused to confirm or deny the information about which he was asked to give his version.
Source: Daily Times
Date:8/21/2005
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