Gilani suspends federal interior Secretary, FIA officials for stopping Defense Minister to leave for China

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani taking strict notice over stopping of Defense Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar from his visit to China regarding defense agreements, has suspended federal interior Secretary and three officials of FIA.

Spokesman Prime Minister House informed that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has expressed his resentment for not allowing defense Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar to leave for China despite the fact that his name was not included in Exit Control List (ECL) and has issued orders of suspension of Federal Interior Secretary Ch. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Add. Director FIA and two FIA Inspectors; and has also issued directives to probe the incident.

Sources also informed that during the One to one meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that was held here Friday, both the luminaries discussed the incident of restricting Defense Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar at airport by FIA officials and expressed their resentment for not allowing the Minister to leave for China for defense agreements despite the fact that his name was not included in Exit Control List (ECL).

Sources further disclosed that defense Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar had held meetings with the President and Prime Minister regarding this issue of barring him to leave for China against the attitude of FIA officials despite not having his name in ECL list.

Sources stated that Show-cause notice was also issued to Federal Interior Secretary Ch. Qamar-uz-Zaman and he has been directed to submit his written report within next seven days.