Pakistan

PNS Mehran base commander replaced

Commodore Khalid Pervaiz to replace Raja Tahir post navy airbase attack.

Afp/faraz Khan May 25, 2011

KARACHI: PNS Mehran base Commander Raja Tahir has been replaced while Rear Admiral Tahseenullah Khan has been tasked with probing the terrorist attack at the base, but the navy has maintained that the replacement is not related to the recent terrorist assault on the navy airbase.

Base Commander Raja Tahir has been replaced with Commodore Khalid Pervaiz.

A navy spokesperson said that the decision to replace the base commander had already been taken and his tenure had been completed. He emphasised that the incident should not be linked to Sunday's attack.

"Commodore Khalid Pervez is taking over as the base commander and his predecessor Raja Tahir will be assigned new responsibilities," a navy spokesman, Commander Salman Ali, told AFP.

He did not say what new job the outgoing commander will hold.

Although the decision was announced just two days after the attack ended, Ali insisted the transfer was unconnected."It is a routine and scheduled transfer. The base commander was scheduled to be replaced, even if there was no attack on the facility," he said."It has no link whatsoever with the inquiry of the incident."

Sources said that an investigation team headed by Rear Admiral Tahseenullah Khan has started recording statements of officials present at the base at the time of the 17 hour terrorist siege.

Talking to media in Karachi, Prime Minister Gilani said the details of inquiry report will be disclosed when the investigation is completed. The prime minister claimed that there is no ambiguity about number of attackers who attacked the Naval base.

Sunday's assault was the worst on a military base since the army headquarters was besieged in October 2009.

COMMENTS (14)

Hasan Lodhi | 13 years ago | Reply Time has come that we as a nation should rise. We keep on blaming everyone else for our problems, truth is contradictory. Unless we accept that we as a nation have failed overtime to address our needs and realize that no one will dig us out of this mess, we can never attain a respectable place in this world. This war on terror would not have existed if we would have forced Taliban in Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Ladin to US after 911. We would not witness this day if our defense policy was not based on proxy war, and if we would have addressed rise in extremisms early in our days. I remember as far a back as 1983 Jamaat-e-Islami was on forefront of exhibiting terror in Karachi University. They would crash parties and shut them down. Carry a TT was sign of strength! APMSO was founded on the basis of displaying terror. If any one does not agree, you are just lying to yourself. We must answer the following questions honestly and do the following. 1- After 60 years can we get Kashmir Back From India. The answer is No. Hence it is important to close this issue with India. Let them deal with it. If Kashmiris want to fight them , may GOD be with them. We should accept that as Indian Territory and go on with our lives. 2- In 21st Century can we afford to have tribal areas , where our country's constitution does not hold, Our government has no writ. We should offer these tribal areas either they are Pakistan or they are not. You cannot have it both ways. Let them decide their own future. If they choose to continue to be cavemen's than let them have it. Cancel their citizenships and isolate them politically. No need to fight them. They want a Jihad with US, God Bless them. 3- Pakistani Taliban should be officially declared as enemies of Pakistan, and they should be referred as " Dushman-e-Islam" This should be their official name. Kill the name of Taliban. 4- Pass a law that no Citizen of Pakistan can hold illegal weapons and if found guilty he or she should be slapped with life imprisonment without parole. A De-Weaponization legislation should be passed and all licenses should stand cancel unless renewed under new law. 5- All Big cities like Karachi, Lahore should be divided in smaller cities with their own government , own police, and own services. Why can't Gullhan-e-Iqbal be a city with its own government. You want democracy than let the system work. All revenues from local city should be spent on that city and its services. They should have their own police accountable to the locals of that city. You will see a dramatic decrease in crimes and mush better control on terrorism. I can write lines upon lines, but the truth is the solutions to our problems is not that difficult. It takes simple common sense and big will to do it. Also no one will do this for us , except us. We need to make a new political party. " Pakistan Revolution Organization". We need to declare Jihad on our self. May Allah Bless Pakistan.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply The base commander after achieving all hisi service goals needs rest, recreation and all the benefits of armed forces. A job well done! Not justice or accountability in the armed forces. This is justice free zone!

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

mahmood | 13 years ago | Reply I read the headline and thought that the military had finally figured out that firing commanders who make blunders is good --- then I read the article.

qaisera | 13 years ago | Reply great ! so noone should be prosecuted . 6 killers and more than 1100 personnel kept at bay for 16 hours. multiple aircraft lost. but noone is held responsible. pretty soon god forbid there will be nothing to be responsible for if americans take us to security council for our security lapses!

Aisha Jalani | 13 years ago | Reply It will bring out nothing.It should be conducted by RTD,serving Naval as well non Naval high level intelligence personnel to make it convincing.It would be fpassing the buck to sacpegoats.

Asad | 13 years ago | Reply The recent events have also ignite a flame of anger inside me against these security instituitions, but we have to very cautiously and objectively challenge them as degrading the army blindly will result in further weakening it's strength and is something enemies of this country would like to see

Arshad Latif | 13 years ago | Reply the removal of base commander of PNS Mehran is the correct thing but all other people responsible for security of the base should also be made exemple. the network of the raiders must also be tracedout and the people from intelligence agencies be brought to books.

Tiffany | 13 years ago | Reply i like the web！it's a fashionable band！ thank you for sharing！

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply I think words like honor, dignity, self-righteousness etc have completely vanished from our Millitary forces too (like our govt & people). As a citizen of this country, I am ashamed of Navy. I my view, Chief of Naval Staff Noman Bashir should also render his resignation or the least, show Commander Tahir the door. A man can only achieve higher ranks in the eyes through his honor, dignity. Our Navy should show that we still have real Men in the force.

ali habib | 13 years ago | Reply @saqib wasim: I agree with you

gregory peck | 13 years ago | Reply those who dont help themselves god even dont help them wake up 5 or 4 years small group take responsibility of every attack pak taliban why they not killed

Abubakar Khalid | 13 years ago | Reply Oh so there's no accountability of Commander Raja Tahir? He just simply gets posted elsewhere? Wow! no wonder the country is in this shape. But then again if there were to be any kind of accountabilities then one would suggest to start from the top.

Zirgham | 13 years ago | Reply Why can't these guys do something which merits, someone responsible at the top must bear responsibility of this failure and shown the door, at least offer a lame resignation!!

saqib wasim | 13 years ago | Reply off course this should not be linked to the Sunday attacks we know we dont have tradition to accept our failure. and put the higher authorities under trial. who is responsible for this our patwari minister simply can put his finger on taliban or alqaeda but nobody would ever dare to think that are the really? and if they are. then why are they? otherwise we dont see to any third party like CIA Moosad or RAW etc. and if we come to know certain things are done by some third party then we get silent. bcz we are not allowed to speak against third parties. shameless govt with shameless attitude . i dont understand since 2001 what is the our govt basic concern either its musharaf or ppp. is it to protect american's interest and destroy your own country. if yes. then congratulations to both of these parties you have done very well but you have to do more.........

Replying to X