The removal of secretary defence, Lieutenant General Khalid Naeem Lodhi (Retd) from service was challenged in Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Thursday. The petitioner, chairman of a public interest litigation company, Mohammad & Ahmad Muhammad Azhar Siddique, stated that the Prime Minister sacked Lodhi on the plea that the secretary had acted illegally and has violated rule of business.
He argued that removal of Lodhi was based on mala fide and an attempt to create confrontation between the institutions. He stated that Lodhi was removed without giving any show cause notice and without providing him an opportunity to defend himself. He, therefore, prayed to the court to set aside the dismissal order of Lodhi and restrain Nargis Sethi from discharging the duties of defence secretary.