Sacked for not signing a govt affidavit: Ex-Sec Defence

Former Secretary Defence Lt Gen (r) Naeem Khalid Lodhi said that I was asked to sign an affidavit on behalf of government which I refused to sign that’s why, I was sacked. How I could sign an affidavit which was not mine, Lodhi explained.Naeem Lodhi further said that he was sacked without being given any reason by Prime Minister Gilani and there was no show-cause notice issued nor was there any inquiry. The former defence secretary said he only replied to questions asked by the Supreme Court.The establishment division, after the reported reaction of former defence secretary in media earlier today, has issued a statement which explains that according to article 99 of the constitution Lodhi should have taken an approval of the law minister before submitting the statements of army chief and DG ISI in the apex court.Mr Lodhi’s step has created misunderstanding between state’s institutions, the law ministry added.Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani then sacked Mr Lodhi on recommendation of defence minister and with help of law ministry’s opinion, the statement said.The statement further said that legal procedure was followed in removing the former defence secretary.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani sacked the Defence Secretary, terming him responsible for gross misconduct. He took the action after the ISPR released a press note in which it stated that the country could face grave consequences in result of the premier’s state regarding unconstitutional moves by the army chief and ISI chief.Lodhi announced to move High Court against his dismissal.