Islamabad High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea for interim relief sought by Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi (Retd) to reinstate him as Defence Secretary and directed the Federation for not appointing any new Defence Secretary till the final disposal of petition. The court in its order also said that Nargis Sethi would continue her services as Acting Secretary Defence till a decision on the case.
A single-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Azim Khan Afridi resumed the hearing of CM application to reinstate former Secretary Defence Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid (Retd) filed by him through his counsel F K Butt. During course of hearing, F K Butt apprised of the court that his client was sacked without any advance notice and prayed the court to cancel the order.
Deputy Attorney General Tariq Mahmood Jahangeri apprised of the court that Naeem Lodhi was appointed on contract basis and the government had paid him one month salary in advance as per rules. He further apprised the bench that Prime Minister and Secretary Establishment had submitted their reply in the case. However, the bench directed the remaining respondents to submit their reply and adjourned the hearing till date in office.