Daily Times

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Tuesday referred the matter of former army chief Raheel Sharif’s employment in Saudi Arabia to the federal cabinet after it was told that the highest executive body had yet to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the purpose.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, was hearing the case pertaining to dual nationalities of public office holders.

Earlier, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan admitted that Sharif proceeded to serve as the head of a Saudi Arabia led Islamic Military Alliance without a getting the NOC issued by the relevant ministry approved from the federal cabinet, a mandatory requirement. The AGP said that cabinet’s approval was needed in view of new service rules

Additional Defence Secretary (ADS) retired Lt Gen Zamirul Hassan also appeared before the court and told the bench that when a request was received from Saudi Arabia regarding Sharif’s induction in the military alliance, an NOC was issued by the General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Ministry of Defence.

The ADS told the court that in his reply to the queries sent on court’s directions, former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Shuja Pasha denied that he was serving on any government post in his country of residence.

The ADS also informed the bench that the army had started an exercise to identify serving or retired officers with dual nationalities. The law does not allow army personnel to hold dual nationality.

After the AGP and the ADS sought to run the matter of Sharif’s foreign service with the cabinet, the bench adjourned the hearing of the case till the end of summer vacations.

Published in Daily Times, August 8^th 2018.