ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has finally shown the door to a senior Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official who had been working in the civic agency on deputation since April last year.

The official was posted as the director general for administration until Feb 9, but was under investigation for ‘misconduct’ following the leak of a video where the officer was caught allegedly harassing a woman in an elevator.

The video, gleaned from security cameras at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, was reported to the authorities by the CDA security directorate.

Officer’s services were repatriated to parent department after probe into ‘misconduct’

Initially, CDA repatriated the officer to the ISI without giving a reason. A CDA letter from Feb 9 addressed to the Cabinet Division and the ISI stated that the officer, “presently posted as director general (administration), CDA, on deputation basis, is hereby repatriated to his parent department, i.e. directorate general Inter Services Intelligence, government of Pakistan, Islamabad and struck off the strength of CDA with immediate effect (sic)”.

Sources in the CDA claimed that the inquiry report was not sent to Cabinet Division at the accused officer’s behest and that the authority repatriated his services without mentioning the allegations.

On Feb 20, a deputy secretary of the Cabinet Division issued a letter to the CDA chairman, saying that “it is decided with the approval of the Cabinet Division secretary that… CDA may be allowed to continue his (ISI’s officer) service in CDA as director general (administration) till the completion of his deputation for the period of three years. This issues with the approval of secretary Cabinet Division for immediate compliance.”

A senior CDA official told Dawn that when the letter arrived, the CDA chairman was very annoyed with the officers who had suggested that the ISI officer’s ‘misconduct’ not be mentioned.

Taking a bold stand, the CDA chairman Maroof Afzal opposed the Cabinet Division decree and in response to the latter’s letter, wrote back saying, “I am directed to refer Cabinet Division’s letter… and to inform that … (the official) was repatriated to his parent department on Feb 9, 2015 on the ground of serious allegations and misconduct so his further retention would not be in the interest of the authority.

Moreover, the new officer has been posted who had already assumed the charge of the post (sic).”

The letter went on to say: “It is therefore, once again requested that he may be repatriated and Establishment Division may kindly be requested to issue his repatriation orders. This issues with the approval of chairman CDA.”

Thought the CDA’s letter bears the same date, Feb 20, as the letter that is received from the Cabinet Division, the letter was actually delivered to the Cabinet Division on Feb 23.

The CDA’s seriousness in this matter can be gauged by the fact that the earlier letter was signed by a deputy director of CDA’s Human Resources Development Directorate, while the latest letter was signed by Director General Nadeem Akbar Malik.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

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