–Chief Justice Nisar says court will investigate how NoC was granted to former COAS, ex-ISI DG to secure employment abroad soon after retirement
–Defence secretary says both generals had sought approval before taking up positions abroad
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday inquired about the employment of two former senior army generals despite a law barring government officers from doing so for two years post-retirement.
The CJP, while hearing a suo motu case of dual nationalities of government employees, observed that “former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) DG Lt Gen (r) Ahmed Shuja Pasha and former army chief General (r) Raheel Sharif had found employment abroad within two-years after retirement”.
“According to the law, government officers cannot sign an employment contract abroad for two years after their retirement. Is the law not applicable to army officers?” the chief justice asked.
Defence Secretary Lt Gen (r) Zamirul Hassan Shah told the court that “both retired officers had obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) prior to leaving the country for employment”.
“Individuals who have headed sensitive departments should, in fact, be provided security,” Justice Nisar remarked.
The chief justice further observed that the court “will see how the permission was granted, and what is its nature and duration. These individuals should have obtained the cabinet’s permission [prior to their departure].”
Speaking about dual citizenship, Shah further said, “The armed forces do not recruit dual citizens,” adding, that “the condition against dual citizenship is advertised in recruitment ads.”
“Any dual citizen accepted by the army has to give up their foreign nationality,” he added.
Justice Nisar ordered the defence secretary to submit in writing the information he had shared in court. He also directed the defence secretary to conduct an exercise within the armed forces to identify those who are secretly holding dual nationalities.
“If the same exercise is carried out in civil departments then it should also apply to the armed forces,” he said.
Furthermore, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, who was also part of the bench, asked the defence secretary, “How many officers of the armed forces were married to foreign nationals?”
Shah responded saying “Any officer who marries a foreign national without obtaining prior approval is strictly penalised.”
Moreover, an Interior Ministry official present in the court said, “27 officers from the ministry were dual citizens.”
Issuing a notice to all 27 officers, the court adjourned the hearing till August 7.
‘WATER SHORTAGE A SERIOUS ISSUE’:
The chief justice has said that water shortage has emerged as one of the serious issues in the country during the past few years.
He gave these remarks on Wednesday during the hearing of a suo motu case based on media reports that Katas Raj temple pond was drying out due to the high consumption of water by the nearby cement factories.
Justice Nisar said the underground water-level has dropped considerably in the country. The cement factories in Chakwal used water worth billions of rupees without any payment, he remarked.
NPF CORRUPTION CASE:
The Supreme Court has disposed of the National Police Foundation (NPF) corruption case and ordered to implement the inquiry commission report while rejecting the objection over it.
A three-member bench of the apex court presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar took up the police foundation corruption case for hearing on Wednesday.
The CJP remarked during the hearing that plots have been distributed without rules and regulations in the National Police Foundation (NPF)
Additional Attorney General (AAG) told the court that the NPF had to recover Rs 32 crore.
The lawyer of the foundation took the stance that Rs 7 crore was recovered regarding the allotment of illegal plots.
The foundation has issued notices over illegal allotments to the people and illegal allottees have raised objections on the report of inquiry Commission
The court has rejected the reservations on the report of inquiry commission and ordered to implement the report.
