"Prime minister has terminated the contract of defence secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi for gross misconduct," a senior government official told AFP.
Nargis Sethi has been given the additional charge of Defence Secretary.
The move comes amid high tension over an unsigned memo that sought US help in reining in Pakistan's generals.
Lodhi had earlier, in his reply to the Supreme Court in the Memogate case, had said that the government did not have ‘operational control’ over the army and its intelligence arm, the Inter-Services Intelligence.
Participants at a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) core committee meeting had demanded that the government take ‘appropriate action’ against Defence Secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi, for his ‘controversial statement’ in the court.
Analyst Ikram Sehgal said that, "Firing Lodhi may be a first step by the government in removing the Chief of Army Staff and the DG ISI... the Army will be forced to react."
Brigadier Sarfaraz appointed 111 Brigade Commander
Brigadier Sarfaraz Ali has been appointed the new 111 Brigade Commander, Express News has reported.
The brigade is posted in Rawalpindi and is part of the X Corps. It has been known to be a part of military takeovers in the country.
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COMMENTS (66)
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1731666526-0/Express-Tribune-(9)1731666526-0-270x192.webp "watch salat al istisqa offered across the country on prime minister s appeal")
@farhan - Educated Pakistanis should support the educated entity and right now, at the present time, they are the Pak Generals that have protected the nation for all these years and cleaned up the mess that civillian govt has been leaving behind. That is the ground reality! Presently, the public supports the Pak Fauj or early elections!!
The PM has constitutional right to remove any government servant if found indulged in gross misconduct so why some are crying. The SC is already exercising executive authority on many issues. I am happy that an able lady has been appointed as Defense Secretary in the history of our men dominated society. PM should take action if necessary against any top brass.
Please go ahead Kiyani. Nation stands with its Army.
If the government could do their work the army wouldn't need to interfere...if our government wasn't incompetent the army would be minding it own business....However our Army keeps this country under control if not for our army, the situation in Balochistan and Northern Area would be much worse.... it's not our army's job to handle these area...it's our government......but i guess they are too busy blaming the army...
@Megatron: Have you forgot that military leaders have damaged public companies and institutuions.
Why is the retired lt generals service picture posted above? It gives the wrong impression that Gilani has fired a general, when in fact hes fired a civil servant.
He must have move Nargis Sethi to remove the two Gen.'s in question.
I wish the civilian Government had substance. Their corruption has blocked their way otherwise the civil Government should have an edge over the Army.
To the government of Pakistan: Please fire these incompetents Kyani and Pasha. I would also like to know if Kyani had governments permission to go to China. Same for Pasha's several trips to Qatar.
Kinda like shooting the messenger when you get bad news ---- guy has fancy title and no authority.
Are the defence secretary and the defence chief, the same designation?
This fight is only hurting the nation and nothing else. Unpopular govts around the world quit when they consider that their popularity has declined. I can assure that PPP that they would only gain if they step down and hold election as soon as possible. Holding on to power and doing nothing will take PPP no where. Pakistan has other pressing problems then to sit in front of TV and listen to stupid anchor person, how to run this nation. PM you have the ability only of if you think beyoud your self.
Sab milay huay hain...army government...judiciary...
Is this forum belongs to Government???
Mr. Gilani should be ensuring that people have jobs, energy (gas/electricity), healthcare and education. That's his mandate. Anything else and he is indulging in prolonging his... correction ....Zardaris rule in this country.
Despite the fact that PPP has miserably failed in meeting any of its promises, I am against removing this government using any other means than an election.
Reason is that this myth of a "Peoples" party needs to be demolished once and for all. And who better to do that than an incompetent and corrupt PPP government. And we can avoid PPP using the political martyr banner again.
Let them complete their term. It will be equivalent of them committing political suicide.
Mr. Gilani should take care of democratic process in the country. It is not the time to fight with Court and Army, moreover PPP leaders should also try to save democracy instead of just supporting Zardari and Gillani. It is the time to give resignation by both President and PM and give these positions to other leaders of PPP. Does it not happened in other democratic countries. There are very good examples of Japan.
For the last 64 years the Pakistan yet highly immature, facing political, Intra and inter Institutional childishness and lack of mutual respect and tolerance. That why common people under various crisis and each Govt. instead of focusing on socio-economic development, their tenure spend on inter and intra institutional warfare, dishonesty, struggle for supremacy and propagandas. The effects of such mutual competition adversely affected/effecting common people/public and propagate highly negative image at international level. On the other hand local media playing highly negative catalytic role to exaggerating the situation, warm-up the conflicts and taking advantages of situations dishonoring Pakistan both its local and international level.
Imran Khan has rejected any unconstitutional move. Nawaz Sharif, on the other, hand is quiet. Either he is "slow" or hand in glove with the establishment.
PPP is trying very hard get their government sacked now, before 5 years are over so they can come back in the next election and say "ONLY if we had FULL five years" we would have brought the heavens to earth...............
@Karin ul Haq
Dont forget Zia ul Haq.
@Megatron
The institutions you named have been run into the ground by 40 years of military rule, with inefficient and corrupt colonels and majors and other military cronies forming layers of middle (and upper) management. What you are seeing now is only the after-effects. The only reason the army gives you a semblance of an 'orderly institution' is because it has complete control over state resources and strategic policy.
first step in showing that democracy is powerful than military, keep it up!
Coup!Coup!Coup!
am so excited....our army will come back to power....so long awaited....
Atleast our enemies will stop fingering us once the army is in power...
Defence secretary gave a valid answer as ministries do not have operational control over the attached departments which is exercised by the head of the institution/deptt in every case not specifically in case of Army and which ought to be there for proper functioning of the departments..he has been made a scapegoat ...
Everything written in the memo seems to be 100% correct about collusion with terrorists and other forces that have destroyed Pkaistan.
SC had told Gilani that he had till 16th Jan to act on NRP verdit, else one of the 6 options. He may not last till then :) PPP ko shahadat mubarak ho.
This really breaks my heart that the self conscience of our leaders have died.
@Ajamal:
'... your state'? A flag-bearer of so called 'People's mandate' like yourself should know better that the state is not a personal property of the PM.
This has nothing to do with People's mandate anyway, this is a purely political decision with no input from the people as such.
Democracy is the best revenge..!
This action might be initiated because of memo gate scandal by the PM. Prime minister and Mr. President Needs to give their resignation instead of this they are blaming to ministry of defense.
Worst form of democracy is STILL better than the PK Army!
Well done Prime Minister. You have taken a bold step of demolishing a state within your state.
Bravo, bravo, bravo. People's mandate vs a federal secretary !!!
Very hypocritical of most of the users since this has been the most corrupt government in the history of Pakistan, yet they are supported by fools who have no idea where this country is heading. There is no excuse of leading the country into mire. Rupee is completely and utterly devaluated and people having limited source of income are going down with it. Yet I want them to complete their 5 years of loot, plunder and lies, atleast they won't have any semblance of sympathy in the next election like the last time when they used BB Shaheed's death as a trump card. If we survive the remaining time (which these days seem like a very long shot). As far as Gillani's brave move is considered I am assuming he did this to become a proverbial "Siyasi Shaheed" to gain sympathies in case army takes over and dethrones him and his belligerent boss!
Right step taken. Why Generals are pressuring govt? Who is superior authority..... Generals or the representative people of Pakistan? Though, govt is not able to stisfy people of Pakistani in this tenure, but i still support democratic govt because they represent me!
Educated Pakistanis are with democratic govt and not with Generals who are asserting their powers uncontitutionally. Period!
@Imran, ur statement. "If the government removes the COAS, it should replace him with the second senior most or the Rawalpindi Corps Commander to avoid any 1999 like situation." I think u are such an ignorant that PM could not remove COAS,coz statuesque is maintained due to Memogate petition at Apex court. if he tries for that it would be contempt against Apex courts keep in ur mind. dont worry there will not be any military rule anymore in pak.
This reminds me of the match in which we used to throw the ball off from our reach, in case if becomes clear that our team is going to lose :P
Do not destroy the system. heard of bull in china shop?
Total caos....seems the government wants it to be couped by army.... whats general public will get out from the fight between institutions.... Pray for Pakistan.
Would you please consider sacking your incompetent government, instead of sacking and insulting people who are just trying to speak the truth and doing the right thing.
PM has again shown his allegiance to the party and now starts the downfall of the PPP government
doing wrong will only create more wrong!
The government is not in right frame of mind. Its inviting trouble - army.
@mk: Couldn't agree more with you!
Pakistan's politics gets only dirtier every hour!
ppp wants to be political shaheed , so that they can ask for vote from poor people of Pakistan.......
@Omair: U better wake-up ....look at PIA,steel mill,railway...so what is left is armed forces and judiciary....chief justice please punish these politicians
Cheif Justice please take quick action and stop PPP government from further maligning prime institutions..they want army to take over in order to become shaheeds...Please save judiciary and army's pride please
If they haven't written memo gate, why the fuss? Why the hue and cry and why the blame game on Army when everyone in the world knows that it is not initiated by Army. If the PM thinks he can sideline the SC orders and can take Army on the path of collision, he is making a terrible mistake. All to do with becoming political martyrs
Martyrdom after four years of plunder
It seems the government is trying its best to become "political shaheeds"to salvage there lost credibility.I think come what may they should be made to complete there tenure so that people have a complete report card at the time of voting in the next elections.
Well done. The army must know its place in the country. That is to honorably defend its borders. Not interfere in running it.
looks like they still haven't given up on dreams of siasi shahadat.
If the government removes the COAS, it should replace him with the second senior most or the Rawalpindi Corps Commander to avoid any 1999 like situation.
Very positive and welcomed step.
Well done P M, Carry on we are with you.
Great Job Mr. Gilani... You must fight back... that is how a representative must act in such a situation...
Who is next in the line of fire?