Pakistan Sacks NSA for ‘irresponsible behaviour’
Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Maj Gen(retd) Mahmud Ali Durrani has been sacked for having indicated days ago that Ajmal Amir Qasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist arrested for the Mumbai terror attacks, may have been a Pakistani.
This fact, ironically, was confirmed by the Pakistan government earlier in the day.
A brief statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said Yousuf Raza Gilani had sacked Durrani “for his irresponsible behaviour (of) not taking Prime Minister and other stakeholders into confidence and lack of coordination on matters of national security”.
Gilani was quoted by Geo News channel as saying that he had sacked Durrani for commenting on the issue of the nationality of Iman alias Ajmal Kasab without taking him (Gilani) or the government into confidence.
The premier told the channel that Durrani’s “irresponsible” comments had affected Pakistan’s image and went against the government’s policies.
The move came soon after Information Minister Sherry Rehman and Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq both told reporters that an investigation by Pakistani security agencies had confirmed that Iman was a Pakistani national.
Rehman also said Pakistan’s investigation into the Mumbai attacks was continuing.
Some reports suggested that Durrani’s sacking would have to be endorsed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has sacked National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Talking to Geo News here, Prime Minister Gilani said Durrani had given a statement to an Indian news channel regarding Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence.
The prime minister said that Durrani’s statement had tarnished the country’s image.
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This fact, ironically, was confirmed by the Pakistan government earlier in the day.
A brief statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said Yousuf Raza Gilani had sacked Durrani “for his irresponsible behaviour (of) not taking Prime Minister and other stakeholders into confidence and lack of coordination on matters of national security”.
Gilani was quoted by Geo News channel as saying that he had sacked Durrani for commenting on the issue of the nationality of Iman alias Ajmal Kasab without taking him (Gilani) or the government into confidence.
The premier told the channel that Durrani’s “irresponsible” comments had affected Pakistan’s image and went against the government’s policies.
The move came soon after Information Minister Sherry Rehman and Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq both told reporters that an investigation by Pakistani security agencies had confirmed that Iman was a Pakistani national.
Rehman also said Pakistan’s investigation into the Mumbai attacks was continuing.
Some reports suggested that Durrani’s sacking would have to be endorsed by President Asif Ali Zardari.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has sacked National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, Geo News reported Wednesday.
Talking to Geo News here, Prime Minister Gilani said Durrani had given a statement to an Indian news channel regarding Ajmal Kasab without taking him into confidence.
The prime minister said that Durrani’s statement had tarnished the country’s image.
