THE Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) has been a dormant organisation for the last several years. It was established during Ziaul Haq’s government to conduct inquiries into malpractices and mismanagement in federal government departments/organisations.

Initially, it was headed by officers from the army, police and the civil service. For the last four-and-a-half years, the chairmanship has gone to members of the National Assembly.

The PMIC consists of a chairman and members appointed by the prime minister. The number of members is not fixed. The prime minister can appoint any retired bureaucrat as a member of the commission. A serving officer, who does not like to be posted as OSD, also manages posting in the PMIC.

The executive order which created the PMIC gives immense powers to the commission for conducting inquiries and criminal proceedings against defaulting government officials.

However, the commission has not prosecuted any government official since its establishment. Rules have not been formulated to give teeth to the commission.

It is time investigation role was given to the PMIC by depoliticising it.

It should be renamed Federal Inspection Commission (FIC) and a retired judge of the Supreme Court may be appointed the chairman of the commission, assisted by retired police officers of integrity and competence. It may be linked with the law ministry only for the budget.

All the cases which are being mishandled by may be transferred to the reconstituted FIC for impartial investigations.

ASGHAR MAHMOOD
Islamabad