Islamabad, Feb. 8: Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, has approved the withdrawal of serving military officers posted in civil organisations, including several general officers who would be reverting to the Army.

The withdrawal of serving officers seconded to civil departments was approved at the 106th Corps Commanders Conference held here on Thursday at the General Headquarters, The News reports.

The policy, however, allows serving officers whose services are essentially required by the government in these departments to continue for some more time.

“There are around 300 serving military personnel currently on deputation to civil departments,” Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Athar Abbas told the paper on Thursday.

One serving 3-star general, Lt Gen Nadim Ahmed, is currently working as Deputy Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) and many
2-star generals are working in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Similarly, the military officers posted as staff officers with the president and the prime minister.

In the conference, the participants, who included corps commanders and principal staff officers and concerned senior military officers, were given comprehensive briefing on the security environment.

General Kayani, who has already declared the Year 2008 as the Year of the Soldier, approved Rs 10 billion package for improving the quality of life of soldiers and young officers. The package includes provision of better accommodation and education facilities for the children of JCOs, non-commissioned offices and jawans.

In an exercise to review the Army’s employment in the forthcoming general elections in various parts of the country, the chief of the Army staff re-emphasised that the conduct of free and fair elections was the sole responsibility of the Election Commission and the Army would meet its constitutional obligations in helping the civil administration for maintaining the law and order, as and when required. (ANI)