Admiral (R) Saeed Muhammad Khan has said that controversial purchase of the Agosta 90 B SSK was made by the PPP government when Pakistan Navy was asking the federal government to buy the 6 Upholder class diesel-electric submarines (also known as Type 2400) which were decommissioned with the end of the Cold War by the Royal Navy.
Admiral (R) Saeed Muhammad Khan has stated in a defamation suit filed against a local TV channel in the court of district that he in his capacity as Chief of Naval Staff didn't recommend the purchase of Agosta 90 B Class submarines. He said that PN recommended the purchase of Upholder class submarines after technical and other investigations.
Admiral (R) Saeed Muhammad Khan has said that recommendation for the purchase of the Upholder class submarines was made as they were available from immediate delivery from the Royal Navy and Pakistan Navy was offered 5-6 Upholder class submarines less price then that of 3 Agosta 90 B class of submarines .
He said that Ministry of Defence rejected the PN's decision and ordered 3 Agosta 90 B class of submarines.
His junior Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza, who led the Pakistan navy from Oct 1999 to Oct 2002 has said, “My hunch is that besides the politicians, some top ranking naval officers, even above the rank of commodore, might also have received kickbacks as reflected in the recent French media reports. They, however, (the top Naval officials) remained undetected for want of proof or witnesses,”
He has said that formal Naval chief, Masoorul Haq, was not convicted of the Agosta 90B submarine kickbacks but for the bribes that he had pocketed in other defence deals.
He has said that formal Naval chief, Masoorul Haq, was not convicted of the Agosta 90B submarine kickbacks but for the bribes that he had pocketed in other defence deals.
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