FIA Chief Delegates Authority to Initiate Disciplinary Proceedings
New order signed by DG FIA Dr Usman Anwar assigns disciplinary authority for BPS-1 to BPS-16 personnel across regional zones, headquarters and the Counter Terrorism Wing, while establishing designated appellate channels.
ISLAMABAD, October 12, 2026: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced a revised administrative framework for initiating departmental disciplinary proceedings, delegating authority to designated senior officers across its regional zones, headquarters and Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW).
The new directives were issued through an official order dated October 9, 2026, signed by Director General FIA Dr Usman Anwar.
According to the order, the FIA director general has exercised powers under Section 7 of the FIA Act, 1974, to delegate authority to initiate departmental proceedings under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The revised framework covers employees in Basic Pay Scales (BPS) 1 to 16 and establishes separate administrative arrangements according to their grades and places of posting.
Authority for Officers Posted in FIA Zones
Under the new arrangement, directors of FIA zones have been authorised to initiate departmental disciplinary proceedings against officials serving up to BPS-14, including sub-inspectors, stenotypists and upper division clerks.
The concerned regional additional director general (ADG) will serve as the appellate authority for these employees.
For BPS-15 and BPS-16 officials, including inspectors, assistant private secretaries and office superintendents, the authority to initiate proceedings has been assigned to the director of the respective zone or the regional ADG.
The FIA director general will serve as the appellate authority in these cases.
New Arrangements at FIA Headquarters
The order also establishes a separate disciplinary authority structure for officials posted at FIA headquarters in Islamabad.
For employees up to BPS-14, the concerned director will be authorised to initiate disciplinary proceedings, while the ADG Headquarters will serve as the appellate authority.
In cases involving BPS-15 and BPS-16 personnel, the concerned director or additional director general will have authority to initiate proceedings.
Appeals in these cases will fall under the jurisdiction of the FIA director general.
Disciplinary Authority Within Counter Terrorism Wing
The revised framework also applies to the FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing.
For CTW officials serving up to BPS-14, the Director CTW will be responsible for initiating departmental disciplinary proceedings.
The Additional Director General responsible for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) has been designated as the appellate authority.
For CTW officials in BPS-15 and BPS-16, authority to initiate proceedings will rest with the Director CTW or the ADG AML/CFT, while the FIA director general will hear appeals.
Centralised Recordkeeping Made Mandatory
In another significant provision, the FIA has directed its DIA to maintain complete records of all departmental disciplinary proceedings.
All additional directors general and directors have been instructed to communicate information regarding departmental proceedings to the DIA.
The required records include inquiry orders, statements of allegations, show-cause notices, penalty orders, exoneration decisions and other related documentation.
The requirement establishes a central reporting mechanism for disciplinary proceedings conducted by different FIA offices.
Previous Administrative Orders Superseded
The notification also supersedes two earlier administrative orders.
These include Order No. FIA/DPS-IAB/Authority-DP/2025/888 dated September 5, 2025, and Order No. DP-PIAB/Authority & Penalties/2022/677 dated February 25, 2022.
The latest order further specifies that previous standing orders, executive directions or standard operating procedures inconsistent with the revised arrangements will stand superseded to the extent of those inconsistencies.
Implications for FIA’s Internal Administration
The decision establishes a defined distribution of authority for initiating disciplinary proceedings at different administrative levels within the agency.
By specifying the responsible officers and appellate authorities for different employee grades, the order provides a formal administrative structure for departmental proceedings across the organisation.
Importantly, the notification concerns the delegation of authority and does not itself announce disciplinary findings or penalties against any particular FIA employee.
The broader legal procedures governing inquiries, hearings, decisions and appeals continue to be governed by the applicable civil service framework.
The latest development represents a change in the FIA’s internal administrative arrangements, particularly concerning lower- and middle-grade personnel serving at headquarters, regional offices and the Counter Terrorism Wing.
