Army Officers Holding Civilian Posts Being Summoned Back

May 18, 2002

As tension mounts along the Indo-Pak border, President Pervez Musharraf has directed all military personnel including top Generals working with civilian departments to immediately report to the Army Headquarters for further orders.

"All the military officials ranking from Major General and down, working with the civilian departments since October 1999 and otherwise should immediately report to the GHQ, Rawalpindi for further orders," the notification issued on Friday said.

The orders were issued from the Presidential secretariat by Musharraf who is also the Chief of Army, Pakistan news agency NNI quoted officials as saying.

"All the uniformed officials including NCOs, JCOs and top level from Lieutenant to Major General, have been directed to report immediately as the military command need them to be posted in the wake of the threats of the Indian leadership," the officials said.

The move to recall all its officers doing the civil duty was significant as according to the media reports over "600 serving or retired army officials held various top political and administrative posts in the country after the military took over power in a coup in October, 1999".

Reports also say Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Muhammad Yousuf Khan, has visited the forward defence locations in Bahawlpur sector in Pakistan's Punjab province to inspect the country's defence preparedness.
©Hindustan Times Ltd.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/190502/dlfor08.asp