LAHORE, Feb 16: Federal Investigation Agency Director-General Mohib Asad has warned its employees against using unnecessary influence in postings, transfers and departmental inquiries.

In a directive issued to all the ADGs, directors, zonal directors and the deputy directors, he said: "If any FIA employee attempts to exert influence in respect of service\ administrative matter, I shall be constrained to make a note of it and the fact will find mention in record, besides any other section of rules which I may decide to order."

Therefore, he said, the FIA employees were advised in their own interest to observe the position of the government servants, efficiency and disciplinary rules, and desist from exerting extra-departmental influence.

The DG has also ordered the deputy-directors to further brief their staff in this regard. It is pertinent to mention that using influence in the service matters is not only in contravention of the government servants conduct rules 1964, but also constitute misconduct in terms of rule 2 (4) of the government servants (E&D) rules 1973.

Sources said the DG had to take notice of the problem because the FIA employees, especially inspectors, had been using political influence to get desired postings and transfers.

They said the inspectors wanted to be transferred and posted to the immigration wing because all of its posts were lucrative. The passport circle was the next choice, they added. The FIA senior officers also had to bear pressure from those already posted in these wings and didn't want to be transferred to any other wing.

It is alleged that the rackets involved in human smuggling cannot operate without the help or consent of the FIA immigration and passport cells officials. The agent mafia usually manages to send its clientele to the developed countries, especially the US and Europe, through stolen and picture changed passports, and swapping of boarding cards.

These agents reportedly either prepare genuine documents with the assistance of the passport circle authorities or help their clients clear all the immigration checks at airports by paying them huge money.

The corruption case against FIA (immigration) Deputy-Director Sajid Akram was one of the few surfaced last year. He had allegedly tried to clear four passengers possessing fake documents of Canada at the immigration desks.

However, the case has been pending with the interior ministry since June last, according to the agency.