NLC scam: Army to investigate retired generals under Pakistan Army Act
ISPR says accused officers neither re-hired nor reinstated, no two different laws being applied to accused.
RAWALPINDI:
The senior retired Army officers, involved in the National Logistics Cell (NLC) scam, will be investigated under the Pakistan Army Act and “those proven guilty of wrongdoings will be brought to justice”, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
In a press release issued online, the ISPR said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that senior retired officers have been recalled and subjected to “thorough process of investigation”.
“It was essential to bring the accused officers under PAA. Therefore, accused retired officers were taken on the strength of the Army. This was done in accordance with Pakistan Army Act Section 92, read in conjunction with Section 40,” the press release stated.
It added that the accused officers have neither been re-hired nor reinstated.
Clarifying media reports, the ISPR stated that the perception that the same nature of offence is being dealt with under two different laws in incorrect. “Military law world over, is inherently more strict and provides for expeditious disposal of the cases,” the statement said.
In July 2011, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to proceed against three former generals and two civilians for illegally investing Rs4.3 billion in the stock market and causing a Rs1.8 billion loss in the process. The investment-related decisions were taken by Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Munir Khan, Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Afzal Muzaffar and Maj Gen (retd) Khalid Zaheer Akhtar.
Various inquiry reports have also held the then-chief finance officer NLC Saeedur Rehman responsible for the losses, along with another civilian.
The senior retired Army officers, involved in the National Logistics Cell (NLC) scam, will be investigated under the Pakistan Army Act and “those proven guilty of wrongdoings will be brought to justice”, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
In a press release issued online, the ISPR said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that senior retired officers have been recalled and subjected to “thorough process of investigation”.
“It was essential to bring the accused officers under PAA. Therefore, accused retired officers were taken on the strength of the Army. This was done in accordance with Pakistan Army Act Section 92, read in conjunction with Section 40,” the press release stated.
It added that the accused officers have neither been re-hired nor reinstated.
Clarifying media reports, the ISPR stated that the perception that the same nature of offence is being dealt with under two different laws in incorrect. “Military law world over, is inherently more strict and provides for expeditious disposal of the cases,” the statement said.
In July 2011, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to proceed against three former generals and two civilians for illegally investing Rs4.3 billion in the stock market and causing a Rs1.8 billion loss in the process. The investment-related decisions were taken by Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Munir Khan, Lt Gen (retd) Mohammad Afzal Muzaffar and Maj Gen (retd) Khalid Zaheer Akhtar.
Various inquiry reports have also held the then-chief finance officer NLC Saeedur Rehman responsible for the losses, along with another civilian.