Pakistan's prime minister has sacked the defense secretary his office announced on Wednesday. The decision comes amid rising tensions between the civilian government and the military over a memo that sought U.S. help in reining in Pakistan's generals. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's spokesman said in a statement that retired Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi was fired for "gross misconduct and illegal action which created misunderstanding" between state institutions. The latest round of tensions were described as "very serious."