Islamabad High Court rejects Lodhi’s appeal to restore him as defence secretary

Islamabad - The Islamabad High Court has rejected former defence secretary Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Naeem Lodhi’s plea to temporarily restore him to his post by staying the implementation of his removal notification.

Justice Azeem Khan Afridi also directed the authorities concerned to maintain status quo and not appoint a new defence secretary until Lodhi’s petition against his sacking is completely disposed.

The court also issued notices to the president, prime minister, cabinet secretary, establishment secretary and acting Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi to submit their replies, The Express Tribune reports.

The ruling comes in response to Lodhi seeking interim relief from the court to restore him to the post.

He claimed he was removed from the post because he had refused to sign a government affidavit related on the Memo Gate issue that was to be submitted before the Supreme Court.

He also contended that he was removed from the post without inquiry or a show-cause notice and added that he should have been given a month’s salary at the time of his removal from office.

Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, however, told the court that Lodhi had been paid the one-month’s salary.

He said Lodhi was removed from the post, on grounds that his was a contractual employment that could be terminated legally at any time without prior notice.

Lodhi was removed by Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on January 11 on charges of ‘gross misconduct’.