Pakistan: The name of the joint secretary of the Ministry of Defence; whether Muhammad Ali Afridi has served in this capacity (January 2004 - July 2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 25 July 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK100350.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: The name of the joint secretary of the Ministry of Defence; whether Muhammad Ali Afridi has served in this capacity (January 2004 - July 2005), 25 July 2005, PAK100350.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/440ed7407.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
There are between six and eight joint secretaries in the Pakistan Ministry of Defence (Pakistan 3 Jan. 2004; Group Editor 19 July 2005; Bureau Chief 23 July 2005). According to information obtained by the Group Editor of the Jang Group of Newspapers, the names of the individuals currently holding these positions within the ministry are as follows: (1) Shaukat Nawaz Khan; (2) Shahidullah Beg; (3) Mohammad Sajid Pirzada; (4) Saleem Iqbal, senior joint secretary; (5) Shiekh Ikramullah, senior joint secretary; (6) Ch. Qamar Zaman, senior joint secretary (19 July 2005). In early 2005, Pakistan Press International (PPI) identified Saleem Iqbal as a joint secretary of the Ministry of Defence (27 May 2005), while two other news reports in early 2004 identified Chaudhry Qamar Zaman as the joint secretary of aviation of the Ministry of Defence (NCA 12 May 2004; PPI 27 Apr. 2004). No corroborating information on the other joint secretaries identified by the Group Editor could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
The Group Editor indicated that according to information he obtained, Mohammad Ali Afridi was at one time a joint secretary in the Ministry of Defence, but that he has since been replaced by Shahidullah Beg (19 July 2005). The Bureau Chief of the Peshawar branch of an independent daily newspaper, unrelated to the Jang Group of Newspapers, obtained similar information: "Mohammad Ali Afridi had served [in the] Defense Ministry as Joint Secretary some time back. A couple of months ago he was replaced by Mr. Shahid Ullah Baig. Mr. Afridi was transferred to Staff College [in] Lahore" (Bureau Chief 23 July 2005). The Bureau Chief indicated that he had no further information on Mr. Afridi's current whereabouts (23 July 2005). Additional information on Mohammad Ali Afridi could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bureau Chief, Peshawar. 23 July 2005. Correspondence.
Group Editor, Jang Group of Newspapers. 19 July 2005. Correspondence.
News Central Asia (NCA). 12 May 2004. "Pakistan, Turkmenistan Agree to Resume Air Connection."
Pakistan. 3 January 2004. Ministry of Defence. "Organization Chart."
Pakistan Press International (PPI). 27 May 2005. "Pakistan, India Hold Talks on Siachen Issue." (Factiva)
_____. 27 April 2004. "Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan Discuss Airlink." (Factiva)
Additional Sources Consulted
The High Commission of Pakistan, in Ottawa, did not respond to a letter requesting information.
The Bureau Chief of a Peshawar-based independent newspaper was unable to respond to a letter requesting information within time constraints.
Internet sites, including: BBC, The Daily Times, Dawn, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Pakistan Navy, United Kingdom – Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), World News Connection (WNC).