Raheel Sharif yet to seek NOC to lead 39-country alliance: Asif
He said that ex-COAS requires NOC from defence ministry to head Saudi-led military alliance
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif gave a policy statement in Senate on Wednesday on the matter of ex-COAS Raheel Sharif offered to head the 39-country Islamic military alliance led by Saudi Arabia.
He stated that a retired army officer requires a no objection certificate (NOC) to take new employment. The previous army chief is yet to make contact for the NOC letter.
Details suggest that the Defence Minister told Senate that the retired army officers need NOC letter from the Ministry of Defence before getting appointed on a new post. The ex-COAS Raheel Sharif has not yet made any contacts with the Defence Ministry for NOC letter to pursue his alleged new job as the head of 39-country Islamic military alliance led by Saudi Arabia.
Senate chairman Raza Rabbani responded to this with an inquiry. He asked whether General (retd) Raheel Sharif asked for permission from his relevant institute General Headquarters (GHQ)?
Khawaja Asif replied that the former army chief has returned to Pakistan after offering Umrah in Saudi Arab, however, he hasn t made any contacts with the GHQ or Defence Ministry upon arrival. He pointed out that Raheel Sharif has not informed any institution about being offered a job in Saudi Arab.
VIDEO: Raheel Sharif didn t inform about his new post, says Khawaja Asif
Later on, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif appeared on Dunya News program “Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath”. He said that he wants to refrain from commenting on General (retd) Amjad Shoaib’s statement. The reports about three demands made by former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif are just rumors.
“There is no confirmed news on Islamic military alliance. We will inform the nation whenever anything comes up”, he added. Khawaja Asif stressed that news on 39-country Islamic military alliance and ex-COAS heading it are not confirmed yet and are merely media reports.
The Defence Minister, while replying to one question, told that the existing record has been presented in Senate. “Gen (R) Raheel Sharif hasn’t approached us yet and everything will happen by permission of defence ministry”, he added.
VIDEO: Khawaja Asif speaks on Raheel Sharif’s new post
