-- At least 11 officers, including Lieutenant-General, removed over corruption; Pakistan Army sufficiently erases the 'sacred cow' impression
In a rare display of accountability, the Army Chief terminated the services of Lieutenant-General Obaid Ullah Khattak, Major General Ejaz Shahid, five brigadiers, three colonels and one major.
Sources said that some of the officers among those dismissed are: Lieutenant-General Obaid Ullah, Inspector General Arms and Weapons at General Headquarters; Major-General Ejaz Shahid, Brigadier Asad Shahzada, Brigadier Saifullah, Brigadier Amir, Lieutenant-Colonel Haider, Commandant Chaman Scouts and Major Najeeb.
The terminated eight officers served with the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan and have been charged with corruption.
Adjutant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat carried out inquires on the directives of the Army Chief. The sacked officers were directed to surrender all earnings accumulated through corruption. Their privileges, benefits and medals will also be taken back except their pensions.
On August 5, 2015, two accused retired General Officers of Pakistan Army were punished under the Pakistan Army Act in the light of inquiries conducted after violations were observed in NLC during 2009.
INP adds: The eight officers served with the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan and have been charged for corruption during their service with the paramilitary. The others dismissed were junior commission officers who worked with those named above, said an intelligence official.
Lieutenant-General Obaidullah also served as IG FC from 2010-2013, after which Major-General Ejaz Shahid was appointed IG FC, intelligence sources said. There has been no official confirmation regarding the move.
The development comes two days after the COAS said "an across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan," adding that the war against terror cannot be won unless "the menace of corruption is uprooted".
Secretary General of the Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) Brigadier Syed Masood-ul-Hassan told Business Recorder that it is a major step taken by Pakistan Army and considered to be the first of its kind.
AFP adds: Pakistan's army has fired several senior officers over corruption charges, senior military sources told AFP Thursday, in a rare display of accountability by the country's most powerful institution.
"I can confirm the sacking of at least six senior officers which include a lieutenant general," said a senior officer based in military headquarters, crediting popular army chief Raheel Sharif with launching the investigation leading to the dismissals. Another source confirmed the sackings.
It was unclear when the officers were fired, the precise nature of the charges, or whether they would face criminal proceedings in a civilian court.
"It's an extraordinary development," retired general Talat Masood told AFP.
"The military has taken the lead in punishing corrupt officials and has set an excellent example. It will have a very serious impact and very positive impact in the future. Those who are corrupt should be worried now."