Gilani sacks defence secretary, Kayani to meet commanders

The political crisis in Pakistan over the memogate scandal suddenly deepened with the sacking of defence secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday.

Cabinet secretary Nargis Sethi has been given the additional charge of the vacated office, as per a DawnNews report . Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has also called an emergency Corps Commanders’ meeting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Earlier in the day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement saying the prime minister’s recent interview to a Chinese daily may have “very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country”, the DawnNews report said .

“There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable Prime Minister has levelled against the COAS and DG ISI and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the Constitution of the Country,” the ISPR’s website said .

The DawnNews report said the responses of the army chief and DG ISI were sent to the defence ministry and both the attorney-general and the Supreme Court were intimated about it.

The statement further said: “Any expectation that COAS will not state the facts [of the memo case> is neither constitutional nor legal. Allegiance to state and the constitution is and will always remain prime consideration for the respondent, who in this case has followed the book.”

Source: Inter Services Public Relations

Watch video of Gilani sacking the defence secretary