Military court of Pakistan (symbolic photo)
Pakistan’s military court has court martialed two of its own former officers. This has created panic among other army officers also. A Pakistani military court on Saturday ‘court martialed’ two retired army officers and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment of up to 14 years on charges of inciting treason. These officers were accused of espionage. After the allegations were proved true, both the officers were sentenced.
Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi were sentenced in their absence. Both the convicts live abroad and are considered critics of the senior military leadership. Raja and Mehdi were convicted and sentenced under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 on charges of inciting sedition among army personnel, the army said in a statement. It said he had also violated provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, related to espionage.
Announcement of punishment of 12 to 14 years
Raja was sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment while Mehdi was sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment. Neither Raja nor Mehdi are likely to face punishment as they are living outside Pakistan, Dawn newspaper reported. The conviction is possibly related to the events of May 9, when the arrest of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chairman Imran Khan led to widespread violence and attacks on key military installations. In June this year, four people, including Raja and Mehdi, were booked at Ramna police station in Islamabad for inciting the mob during the violent May 9 protests. (Language)
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