Islamabad HC reserves verdict in Lodhi sacking case

Asia Bulletin (ANI) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has reserved its verdict in the petition filed against the sacking of Lt-Gen (retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi from the position of defence secretary of Pakistan.

The government has requested the court to dismiss the petition filed by Lodhi's lawyers Mohammad Munir Paracha and F.K. Butt, The Dawn reports.

The president, prime minister, cabinet secretaries, the establishment division and Acting Secretary Defence Nargis Sethi have been mentioned as respondents in the petition.

Insisting that Lodhi's sacking was illegal, Butt told the court in today's hearing that the government's claim that Lodhi was dismissed for violating the rules of business and a code of conduct had damaged his reputation.

However, representing the federal government, Deputy Attorney General Tariq Jehangiri rejected Butt's allegations, and said that Lodhi was sacked legally and in accordance with the rules of business.

He further said that it was wrong to link action against Lodhi with the possibility of any action against the army chief.

Lodhi, a close confidant of General Ashfaq Kayani who took over as the defence secretary on November 28 last year, was sacked on January 11. (ANI)