BY: Syed Fawad Ali Shah
ISLAMABAD – A fresh notification from the Punjab Police Headquarters, Lahore, has set off alarm bells across Pakistan’s bureaucratic circles. Dozens of Inspectors — mostly from Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD), Investigation, and Operational wings — have been transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Islamabad, on deputation basis. The move, approved “on the recommendation of DG FIA,” has raised eyebrows for all the wrong reasons. Insiders claim this isn’t a simple reshuffle — it’s a political transplant. The FIA, once Pakistan’s top federal investigative arm, is now being “colonized” by Punjab Police loyalists, allegedly hand-picked for their obedience and political connections rather than merit or experience. The official order lists inspector after inspector — from Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, and DG Khan — all relieved from Punjab Police and ordered to report to FIA Headquarters, Islamabad. What’s striking isn’t just the number of officers, but the pattern: a large majority belong to the CCD, a department long associated with custodial violence and extrajudicial operations.. “The FIA is being flooded with cronies of the ruling regime,” remarked one senior insider. “It’s no longer a federal investigation body — it’s Punjab Police 2.0.”.. The resentment within FIA’s own ranks is simmering. Dozens of eligible FIA officers have reportedly been waiting for promotion, yet instead of advancing them, outsiders with no FIA experience are being flown in on lucrative postings.. “This isn’t deputation — it’s occupation,” said another source, calling the move a deliberate attempt to plant “yes-men” who will obey any illegal order without hesitation. The criticism doesn’t stop there. Observers believe these deputed inspectors will soon be handling “custodial death and torture” complaints — ironically the very cases that often implicate Punjab Police and CCD officers themselves. “Now they’ll be the ones clearing such cases from inside FIA,” a source added, calling it a classic case of conflict of interest. For many, this episode symbolizes the slow and deliberate capture of federal institutions by provincial power centers. The FIA, meant to be independent, is being stripped of its neutrality — turned into a comfortable refuge for politically connected police officers. These deputationists are seen as buffers between the government and accountability — their job not to investigate, but to insulate. Their loyalty, after all, lies with the system that brought them in, not the institution they are sent to serve. The fallout could be far-reaching. Demoralized FIA officers, sidelined on their own turf, are unlikely to stay silent for long. Legal challenges, internal resistance, and quiet leaks are expected. Meanwhile, political circles interpret the move as part of a broader pattern: neutralize oversight bodies before any uncomfortable investigations arise. The message, loud and clear — loyalty beats legality.. As one insider put it bluntly: “FIA is no longer an independent investigation agency — it’s becoming a recycling plant for Punjab Police’s favorites. The watchdog has been turned into a house pet.”.
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