ISLAMABAD:Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday issued its stance for the first time in the case of financial irregularities in the National Logistic Cell (NLC).

An official of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) while commenting on NLC  issue on Friday categorically stated that the NLC case will be conducted strictly in accordance with due process of law and those proven guilty of wrong doings will be brought to justice.

In a press release issued here he further clarified that for recording of the Summaries of Evidence, it was essential to bring the accused officers under Pakistan Army ACT (PAA).

The three accused officers Lt-Generals Khalid Munir Khan, Lt-Gen (retd) M. Afzal Muzzafar, Director General of NLC Maj-Gen (retd) Khalid Zaheer Akhtar, were already questioned in that regard, the press release added.

Major general level officers were designated to analyse the Summary of Evidence on behalf of Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Kayani. The COAS would further direct after analyses of the summary.

"Basing on the credibility of the evidence accrued through these Summaries of Evidence, the COAS will decide on the next legal step. It is categorically stated that the case will be conducted strictly in accordance with due process of law and those proven guilty of wrong doings will be brought to justice."

"It is further clarified that for recording of the Summaries of Evidence, it was essential to bring the accused officers under PAA.

Therefore, accused retired officers were taken on the strength of the Army. This was done in accordance with Pakistan Army Act Section 92, read in conjunction with Section 40. The accused officers have neither been re-hired nor reinstated."

Similarly, their calling back for investigations neither constitutes re-commissioning nor entitles them to pay, or any other privileges.

Earlier, three retired generals accused of being involved in a multi-billion scam of National Logistics Cell (NLC) have been taken back in active service so that they may face court martial, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of National Assembly was informed on Sept 6.

The official said that it is also important to note that Pakistan Army Act is a substantive act of the Parliament and not a departmental law.

Likewise, another important aspect meriting attention is that Armed Forces world over, without exception, are governed by separate (military) laws.

Therefore, the perception being created that the same nature of offence is being dealt with under two different laws is incorrect.

The issue of financial mismanagement and alleged corruption of Rs2 billion in the military-run NLC came to light in February 2009 when the PAC asked the Planning Commission to look into the matter. Then PAC chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan first gave a deadline of two months for determining the truth about the scandal. Subsequently, four different inquiries were conducted but the issue remained unresolved.

The first inquiry was carried out by the Planning Commission. While the PAC was discussing the report of this inquiry it was informed that a consultant had been hired by the new NLC management to prepare a fresh report on the issue. Initially, the consultant’s report was not presented before the committee which after some efforts managed to get it.