Islamabad: A major of the Pakistan Army
arrested for involvement in the theft of a consignment of
copper wire from a freight train was on Wednesday dismissed from
service.
The officer, identified only as Major Ayub, was dismissed
from service after he was "found guilty of theft of copper
wire in a railway bogie", a military statement said.
"The dismissed officer has also been ordered to deposit
his share of the embezzled amount in the government treasury,"
the statement said.
The Army had on Monday confirmed that the major had been
arrested for involvement in the crime committed in Punjab
province.
TV news channels had reported that the arrested officer
was serving with an intelligence agency though there was no
official word on this.
Pakistan Railways officials said a train with a large
consignment of copper wire, which was going from Khanewal to
Lahore, was diverted to Kharian, where the cargo worth
millions of rupees was stolen.
Besides the major, five other persons, including a
railways official, were arrested in connection with the theft.
Police recovered Rs 18 lakh that the arrested men had
made by selling the stolen copper wire.
PTI
