LAHORE, Jan 16: Deputy Director General of the Intelligence Bureau (Punjab), Sardar Saleem Khan, has termed a report carried by Dawn on Jan 14 headlined ‘Staff drain may leave IB spyless’ as ‘concocted and baseless’. The IB official also decried what he saw as no attempt by Dawn to seek his agency’s point of view.

In a statement, the IB official said the assertion that most of middle-ranking IB officers were not happy with their working environment and facilities available to them and were desperate to leave the agency seeking other options was without foundation.

“IB has a professional cadre of its own officers with good avenues of promotion in higher ranks up to Grade-21. Officers/staff also get 20% Special Pay and provided adequate transport and accommodation facilities as per rules.

In addition, IB Employees Housing Society has developed housing schemes to provide residential plots to its officers/staff. There is no frustration/disgruntlement among IB officers except for a few, who might be facing disciplinary action for their inefficiency, indiscipline and misconduct,” and who may have been the source of the said news story.

Dawn stands by its story. The IB’s assertion that no attempt was made to secure its version is incorrect as the said story itself says the IB Director General Shoaib Suddle declined comment citing official policy. Other sources who requested anonymity are also quoted in the story explaining the agency’s point of view.—Editor