Official suspended for barring Pakistan minister from China visit
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 18, IRNA -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has suspended top Interior Ministry official for stopping the country’s Defence Minister from visiting China.
Immigration Authorities Thursday night barred Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar from boarding a plane to proceed to China on official visit after his name was put on the Exit Control List over corruption charges.
The Defence Minister was scheduled to leave for Beijing along with Naval Chief to attend ceremony of the hand over to Pakistan of Chinese frigates.
The country’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had put the name of Mukhtar and 247 others after the Supreme Court revived corruption cases against them.
“The Prime Minister taken a very serious notice of last night incident at Islamabad Airport of not allowing the Minister for Defence, Mr. Ahmad Mukhar to proceed to China on an official visit and has suspended Secretary Interior,” a statement from the Prime Minister office said.
The Prime Minister also suspended Additional Director Federal Investigation Agency and two inspectors, the statement said.
A formal inquiry has been ordered, it added.
The interior ministry had put on the ECL the names of beneficiaries of an amnesty law known as the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.
The NRO was introduced by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007 under which corruption cases were withdrawn from President Asif Zardari, several ministers, political leaders and top bureaucrats.
Sources said that a notice was also issued to the suspended Secretary Interior and a reply has been sought in seven days.
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