ISLAMABAD, August 1 (TNS): The Supreme Court asked on Wednesday why former top army generals had gone abroad for employment despite a law barring government officers from doing so for two years post-retirement.
Hearing the suo motu case of dual nationalities of government employees on Wednesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Shuja Pasha and former chief of army staff General (retd) Raheel Sharif had found employment abroad within two-years after retirement.
“According to the law, government officers cannot sign an employment contract abroad for two years after their retirement. Generals Pasha and Sharif, both, found employment abroad. Is the law not applicable to army officers?” the chief justice asked.
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Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Zamir-ul-Hassan Shah apprised the court that both retired officers had obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) prior to leaving the country for employment.
In response, the chief justice noted that those who serve the country at top positions are privy to sensitive information. “Individuals who have headed sensitive departments should, in fact, be provided security,” Justice Nisar remarked.
The defence secretary then informed the apex court that the federal government had permitted both generals to sign foreign employment contracts.
However, Shah, who served in the army as the adjutant general, admitted he was unsure of the rules barring government servants from obtaining foreign employment till two years after their retirement.
The chief justice observed that it is to be seen how this permission was granted. “We will see how the permission was granted, and what is its nature and duration. These individuals should have obtained the cabinet’s permission [prior to their departure],” noted Justice Nisar.
