RAWALPINDI: The report published in a section of the Press that some 500 officers have been retired by the Government is exaggerated. The correct position is that the Federal Government have ordered the retirement of 29 officers on completion of 25 years’ service … and the provincial Governments have retired 19 officers. These officers have been retired on grounds of inefficiency, misconduct or corruption. These retired officers are entitled … to normal terminal benefits… . The Federal Government have also issued show-cause notices to 50 officers on charges of corruption based on investigations carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency. The provincial Governments have likewise issued notices to 34 officers.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Cairo,] a final ceasefire in Lebanon’s 18-month civil war is due to take effect from Oct 21 under the Riyadh six-party Arab Summit Conference agreement concluded yesterday [Oct 18]. Syrian troops already in Lebanon and the 3,000-man Inter-Arab Peace Force will supervise implementation of this 57th ceasefire, pending reinforcement of the All-Arab contingent to 30,000 men.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2026