Tariq Pervez


Tariq Pervez is a Pakistani civilian intelligence officer and a bureaucrat who served as home minister in the Punjab government, only to oversee the general elections held in 2013. He began as a police officer and rose to become the director-general of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency from 2005 to 2008. After his retirement, he planned to engage in counterterrorism efforts and join a think-tank.

Early life

Pervez completed his undergraduate and post-graduate studies from Government College University. Later he completed his MSc in Criminology from Cardiff University and returned to Pakistan to serve the country.

Career

Pervez was appointed the National Coordinator of the Counter Terrorism Authority. NCTA's function is to coordinate counterterrorism efforts between FIA, ISI and IB. He faced bureaucratic hurdles in getting the NCTA law draft passed from the Ministry of Interior and the Law Ministry, and eventually resigned over these ongoing obstacles. He officially resigned effective 21 July 2010.
During his tenure as head of CID Punjab he played a major role in eliminating their sectarian network in the 1990s.
During his FIA career, Pervez resolved several terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings in the wake of 9/11. He had a good reputation for integrity.
Under his stewardship, terrorists who had tried to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf, and who were involved in the Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing and other high-profile bombings, were traced. Moreover, he prepared a useful book of suspected terrorists.
On 20 August 2007, Pervez was threatened with jail over the disappearance of a Pakistani man, Hafiz Abdul Basit, who was later released.
He was mentioned in the Pakistan national dailies DAWN, The News and Daily Times regularly and also in the foreign media such as the New York Times, TIME Magazine and also in the CTC Sentinel at West Point.

Recognition

In 2004, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan for his efforts in counter-terrorism.