ISLAMABAD: An official notification circulated by the Establishment Division earlier this week stopped civil servants from speaking to the media without securing the government's prior consent, saying this was required under a law that regulates the behavior of bureaucrats.
"Various instances have come to the notice of this Division that Government Servants participate in electronic, print and social media platforms to air their views on a variety of subjects," said the notification issued on Thursday, a copy of which is available with Arab News. "However, it has been observed that in many such instances, procedural requirements under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964, are either not complied with in letter and spirit or, in many cases, totally ignored."
According to the regulation, government servants cannot express views against official policies or the ideology of the country that may harm the security of Pakistan or jeopardize its friendly relations with foreign countries.
The bureaucrats are also required not to indulge in defamation, sectarian practices, commit contempt of court or public demonstrations against an official policy or decision.
They are also barred "from making any statement of fact or opinion which is capable of embarrassing the Government," the notification continues.
"Any violation of these instructions" by bureaucrats under the federal government's jurisdiction "will be tantamount to misconduct," it says, adding that the country's administration would move against such employees "under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973."
