18 Pak ambassadors sacked

ISLAMABAD, OCT 16: Pakistan8217;s military regime has sacked the country8217;s ambassadors to 18 countries, including the United States, Britain and France.The orders, issued hours after General Parvez Musharraf imposed emergency and proclaimed himself the country8217;s chief executive, also directed removal of ambassadors to Spain, Austria, Holland, UAE, North Korea, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Bahrain, Norway, Tunis and Myanmar, media reports said here today.

The reports, however, did name the other three countries.These envoys have been asked to immediately hand over their charges to their deputies, Pakistan8217;s largest Urdu daily Jung reported, quoting official sources. Most of these envoys were either relatives or friends of the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif or were very close to the previous regime, it said.

A report in the daily from Washington The News said Pakistan8217;s ambassador to US Tariq Fatmi, who assumed charge only last month, was asked to hand over charge to his deputy Shahid Kamal, hours afterproclamation of emergency.