ISLAMABAD, March 10: The federal government has removed Maj-Gen Pervez Akmal from the office of OGDCL managing director with immediate effect and sent him back to the general headquarters.

A decision to this effect was taken by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali. Accordingly, a notification was issued here on Monday by the establishment division.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has notified that Najam K. Hyder, general manager of the OGDCL, will look after the office of managing director till further orders, in addition to his own duties.

Maj-Gen Akmal had been appointed the OGDCL chief soon after the military take over in October 1999 and survived many moves from a powerful petroleum sector lobby for his removal before the general elections of Oct 10, 2002.

Official sources however said the decision was part of the prime minister’s policy of not extending the tenures of military officials in civil organisations.