dated March 10, 1951: Gen. Akbar Khan arrested

Pakistan's Chief of General Staff, Major-General Akbar Khan and Brig. M. A. Latif were dismissed from service for ``conspiracy to create commotion in the country by violent means and to subvert the loyalty of Pakistan defence forces.''

Major-General Akbar Khan and his wife were arrested in Rawalpindi; Brig. Latif, Brigade Commander, Quetta, at Karachi and Fiaz Ahmed at Lahore.

In a statement issued from Lahore on March 8, Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, said that Mr. Fiaz Ahmed, Editor of Pakistan Times was also involved in the conspiracy. Action had also been taken to arrest all ``ring-leaders'', he said.

Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan added: ``The existence of this conspiracy which fortunately for us all, was uncovered well before it could take root. I feel sure, it will shock the people of Pakistan as much as it has shocked me. People no doubt will fully appreciate that for reasons of national security it is impossible for me to disclose publicly the details of the plans of those who are implicated in the conspiracy. ...I will not conceal how deeply it has pained me to take stringent action against two high officers of the Army.''

Condemning the ``enemies of Pakistan who hatched the plans,'' Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan said, ``All I need say is this, that if these plans had succeeded, they would have struck at the very foundation of our national existence and disrupted the stability of Pakistan.''

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