Former defence secretary Lt. Gen. (rtrd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi. - File Photo.

ISLAMABAD: The establishment division of the government on Friday said that the Prime Minister Gilani sacked Khalid Naeem Lodhi from the post of defence secretary with the recommendation of Law and Defence Ministries, DawnNews reported.

The establishment division, after the reported reaction of former defence secretary in media earlier today, has issued a statement which explains that according to article 99 of the constitution Lodhi should have taken an approval of the law minister before submitting the statements of army chief and DG ISI in the apex court.

Lodhi said he was new to the post when defence minister asked him to justify himself for not following the right legal procedure.

The law ministry, when asked for its opinion by defence minister, declared that the law has been broken by then defence secretary.

Mr Lodhi’s step has created misunderstanding between state’s institutions, the law ministry added.

Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani then sacked Mr Lodhi on recommendation of defence minister and with help of law ministry’s opinion, the statement said.

The statement further said that legal procedure was followed in removing the former defence secretary.

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