ISLAMABAD, Jan 11, IRNA – Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday sacked Secretary of Defence Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi, media reported.

The reason for his sacking being given is misconduct and that he took unlawful steps.

Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi will assume the additional responsibilities of the Defence Secretary.

Lodhi had earlier, in his reply to the Supreme Court in the Memogate case, had said that the government did not have ‘operational control’ over its intelligence arm, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Participants at a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) core committee meeting had demanded that the government take ‘appropriate action’ against Defence Secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi, for his ‘controversial statement’ in the court.

Moreover, the army chief had summoned an emergency meeting of the corps commanders.