ISLAMABAD - The Federal Secretary for Defence went 'missing as the Pakistans Armed Forces and public at large celebrated Defence Day on Tuesday with national spirit to commemorate the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers. While the Army, Naval, Air Chiefs as well as the Joint Chief of Staff, Defence Minister and Pakistans ruling political leadership issued statements and extensively participated in the activities organised in connection with Defence Day, with the serving and retired military officers having written articles and hosted related events to remember the services of the valiant Pakistani soldiers in 1965 war, the Secretary Defence Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Athar Ali and other top bureaucrat baboos at Ministry of Defence could not spare a few moments to come out of their self-created shell of isolation and honour this noble event. Although Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar remained active in Defence Day celebrations and expressed profound words to pay due reverence to the 1965 War veterans and martyrs, the Secretary Defence, despite being an administrative head of a ministry that supervises the defence and key strategic organisations, was nowhere to be seen. Not only that the official website of the Ministry of Defence did not carry any statement on Defence Day, not even a ceremonial one, but the Ministry as well, did not organise any prevalent activity under its direct auspices. When approached on this issue, the personal assistant (PA) of the secretary defence straightway said that his boss was not in no mood to talk to media and came up with some nave answers thereafter. The PA said that the Defence Ministrys Public Relations Officer (PRO) Akhtar Munir was the focal person to entertain media queries. When reminded that Akhtar Munir was not the Ministrys PRO anymore, as he was replaced by Shahab Hamid several months ago, the PA said, Yes, whatever, but you better talk to PRO. Secretary Defence does not want to talk so any official statement has to be routed through the ministrys PRO. When reminded again that the PRO Defence Ministry was not authorised to officially comment on any issue and it was the Ministrys spokesman Rear Admiral Shah Sohail Masood who could offer any official comment but he always remained inaccessible to media, the seemingly ignorant PA said, Well I didnt know that but why doesnt he answer your queries? He gets salary from national exchequer for this purpose The PA confirmed that no official statement was issued on behalf of the secretary defence on Defence Day nor was he committed to any official engagement to this effect, Not to my knowledge, he said. TheNation then contacted Rear Admiral Shah Sohail Masoods office only to know that he was out of the office and this newspapers queries regarding the apathy of Defence Ministry baboos towards Defence Day could not be entertained. The Rules of Business 1973 clearly provide that Defence Ministry deals with all policy and administrative matters pertaining to all the armed forces engaged in the defence of the country. Having devoted a lifetime to Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Athar Ali is bound to be well aware of the importance of a national event particularly when it pertains to defence. It was more than appalling to see a person of his capacity and standing having looked completely indifferent towards Defence Day. This is not the first time when the Defence Ministry baboos gave a cold shoulder to an event carrying national importance. This year in May, Pakistan Navys base PNS Mehran came under terrorist attack in Karachi. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Navy and Interior Ministry conducted extensive media briefings after the incident but Defence Ministry, as usual, went 'missing.