LAHORE: The fate of around 70 BPS-16 and above officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) hangs in the balance as their services have been regularised in violation of the rules.

The Interior Ministry had sought a reply from the FIA about the ‘legal status’ of the 70 or so (BPS-16 and above) employees whose services were regularised in the previous regime.

In its reply, the FIA said: “The contract employment/re-employment beyond two years against civil posts in BS-16-22 made or continued after 25-3-2010 requires concurrence of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).”

According to the FIA Rule 17 of 1975, direct appointments to grade-16 and above shall be made on the basis of examination or test to be held by the FPSC.

The unlawful regularisation has created resentment among the agency’s regular employees who fear that the ‘late entry’ of the contract employees will block their promotion.

“Such employees earlier had used their political connection to get their services regularised.

The PML-N government should undo the irregularity by at least making them appear in the FPSC exam if they want their services to be regularised,” an official in the agency made a request to the government.

In one such unique example, Ms Sarwat Hamid Butt was appointed statistician on a contract basis for a period of two years in 2006 in FIA.

Her contract was continued to be extended till 2012 when her services were regularised in BS-18 (without passing the FPSC).

In just a span of one year, (2013) she was promoted to BS-19 and she assumed the charge of the post of additional director (statistician).

The government has nominated Ms Butt for 15 senior management course (SMS) for BS-19 officers at the National Management College, Lahore, starting on Monday (Feb 24) till July 2014, thus making her eligible for promotion to BS-20.

If she manages to get BS-20 Ms Butt’s case will be the rare one in the history of the civil services – getting BS-20 in just a period of eight years.

“The contract appointment does not confer any right for being placed in gradation or seniority list and that was clearly mentioned in the offer of contract employment in the agency,” the official said.