At least six high-ranking Pakistani army officers, including a lieutenant-general and major-general, have been sacked amid corruption allegations.

The unprecedented move comes two days after the head of the army, Gen Raheel Sharif, said corruption had to be uprooted to fight terrorism.

An initial army statement that said 11 officers had been dismissed has now been retracted.

Details of the allegations against the officers were not immediately released.

Observers say the timing of the announcement and the remarks by Gen Sharif are designed to put pressure on the government.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is still dealing with controversy at home after details of his family's offshore assets were revealed in the so-called Panama Papers.

(BBC)