Triggering fears and doubts of what may come next, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday sacked Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi for “gross misconduct” – a move that appears to be a tipping point for the ongoing crisis between the civilian and military leadership.
But the sacking was not a straightforward affair – and the law division and defence ministry were at loggerheads over the issue. It was the law division’s legal advice to Prime Minister Gilani that resulted in the abrupt sacking.
On the face of it, Lodhi was fired for causing what the government called a “misunderstanding” between the prime minister and the top military brass.
The sacking came moments after the military denounced the prime minister for accusing it of violating the law by directly responding to the Supreme Court in the Memogate case, bypassing the government and its legal wing.
Sources said the law division and defence ministry had a difference in opinion over Lodhi’s move of submitting the statements of army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief General Shuja Pasha to the Supreme Court in the Memogate case.
Sources added Lodhi had submitted his written reply to Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, last week, explaining his constitutional position in the submission of the replies before the apex court.
Lodhi stated that his action was neither a violation of the Constitution nor the rules of business. He cited General Ghazi’s case as a precedent in support of his explanation, wherein the latter submitted the reply of the then army chief to the apex court.
“My action of directly submitting the army and ISI chiefs’ reply to the Supreme Court was in line with my duties and authority as defence secretary,” he claimed in his explanatory statement.
Mukhtar forwarded Lodhi’s explanation to the prime minister with favorable comments, terming the former secretary’s explanation ‘satisfactory’.
However, the prime minister, in turn, forwarded the explanation to the law division for vetting.
In its vetting, the law division sharply disagreed with the defence minister and proposed an exemplary disciplinary action, which included Lodhi’s dismissal as defence secretary.
Charged over the hard-hitting ISPR response over his interview with Chinese media where he termed the army and ISI chiefs’ direct reply to the SC as ‘illegal’, the prime minister put his foot down and sacked Lodhi as defence secretary. Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi has been handed over additional charge of the powerful post.
Lodhi’s dismissal has added to the distrust between Gilani’s cornered government and the armed forces, which is now at an alarming level.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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John B has correctly pointed out that whether we may like or dislike Gillani, he has been elected by People of Pakistan. Courts and Military can't take over this mandate. Change can only come through the elections or if he loses the confidence of the members of assembly.
If PM cannot sack his /her own subordinates of the executive branch, then how you run an organization. People of PAK elected the PM and gave him the authority to manage state afford.
The PM is right. He followed the recommendation of his law department which is responsible for the rule of the land. If Lodhi is honorable he should go gracefully.
Executive branch subordinates function at the pleasure of the chief executive, the PM, who in turn serves at the pleasure of PAK people.
Until PAK learns this and PAK courts stop accepting the frivolous law suits, PAK democracy has a long way to go.
Did they pick a name out of the hat to replace Lodhi? Oh well, at least they are consistent in their shambles.
Why Advise . Ithink to get some-one shoulder . If it proved to be a wring move he will seek another advise, make an excuse and fire another one . PATRIOTIC people do not have CONNECTIONS.
Sad News
@Wazir sb do u mean a lot? or ALOT as i the allotment of plots???
Off course he was honourable and patriotic, he is after all an Army Officer and a General, thats patriotism and honour at its best in Pakistan! aint it???
At the same time its good to see the PM finally exercising some of his executive authority and acting on advice of the Law division rather than some whim!
Lol ALOT of pencil pushers at PM secretariat. I had the tune from the movie Brasil running in my head running in my head reading the piece....
He was an honorable and a patriotic man.