ISLAMABAD, March 28: The General Headquarters will recall 72 army officers, including six major-generals and eight brigadiers, serving in various civilian departments by mid-August in two phases, according to Inter-Services Public Relations director-general Major-General Athar Abbas.

He said that at present there were 150 officers working in various departments, but some departments had sought to retain 32 officers and also wished to re-employ them after retirement.

The ISPR director-general said most of the officers would be retiring this year or next year. He said that the services of 46 officers were being retained by some departments till mid-August because of non-availability of replacements.

He said the departments and ministries had been asked to get a no-objection certificate for re-employing these officers against 10 per cent quota or open vacancy through the ministry of defence.

The ministry refers all such cases to the Establishment Division for confirmation.

“However, from now on the GHQ will not entertain any request for retention or induction of officers in uniform in any civilian department,” he said.

The ISPR director-general said that the return of junior commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and Jawans had commenced.

Athar Abbas said that retired officers were eligible for re-employment on 3- to 5-year contracts, renewable up to the age of 60 years, to a maximum of 10 per cent of annual vacancies in various groups and cadres.

The re-employment, he said, was made through the Defence Services Officers Selection Board headed by the minister of interior and comprising secretaries of establishment and defence.

Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had ordered withdrawal of more than 300 army personnel posted in various civil departments on secondment.

Immediately, 152 of military personnel returned to the Pakistan Army. They included six major-generals working in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).