The Federal Ministry for Interior has cancelled the regularization of 34 officers serving with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, reversing an administrative decision that had been in place since 2012. According to an official notification issued by the ministry, the affected officers will now be treated as contractual employees. The notification has also been forwarded to Auditor General of Pakistan, indicating that the matter may have financial and administrative implications requiring audit review. The development has drawn attention due to the sensitive nature of NCCIA’s role in addressing cyber related offences and the length of time since the original regularization was approved.
The officers in question were initially part of FIA before being absorbed into NCCIA. Their regularization was approved in 2012 by a committee led by senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah. At the time, the move was intended to formalise their service status following their transfer into specialised cyber crime investigation roles. Over the years, NCCIA has expanded its responsibilities in response to the rapid growth of digital services, online transactions, and technology driven communication across Pakistan, making staffing decisions within the agency particularly significant for operational continuity.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Interior Ministry’s decision follows objections raised by some FIA officials, who had filed a petition challenging the regularization of these officers. The petition questioned the legal and procedural basis under which the officers were regularized more than a decade ago. The cancellation suggests that the ministry conducted a review of the case in light of these concerns and opted to reverse the earlier decision to align with existing rules and administrative frameworks. By formally notifying Auditor General of Pakistan, the ministry has signalled that the financial aspects associated with the officers’ employment status may also be examined.
The change in status means that the 34 officers will now serve under contractual terms, which may affect service benefits, tenure security, and long term career progression. While the notification does not elaborate on the duration or conditions of the contracts, it clearly states that the earlier regularization no longer stands. This move reflects broader challenges within public sector human resource management, especially in agencies that have evolved rapidly due to technological change. As cyber crime continues to grow in scale and complexity, institutions like NCCIA rely heavily on experienced personnel with specialised skills, making employment decisions closely linked to both governance and operational effectiveness.
The Interior Ministry has not indicated whether the affected officers will be given an opportunity for fresh regularization under revised rules or whether additional policy measures are being considered to address similar cases across other departments. For now, the notification remains limited to the cancellation of the 2012 regularization and the reclassification of the officers as contractual employees. The development highlights the ongoing scrutiny of legacy administrative decisions and underscores the importance of procedural compliance in managing personnel within critical national institutions.
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