Ex-army officers convicted for inciting mutiny

Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi 12 years

RAWALPINDI:

The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) has convicted and sentenced two retired Pakistan Army officers for inciting military personnel to mutiny, declaring them “fugitives/adversaries”.

Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour while Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday, “Both the retired officers of Pakistan Army, Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi, have been booked by the Field General Court Martial under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for [inciting] mutiny among army personnel.”

The military’s media wing stated, “Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi were also charged under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC 1860), Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA 2016) and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA 1997) for sedition, defamation, offense against the state, terrorism and incitement to violence and the court found them guilty.”

The ISPR stated that the court of competent jurisdiction convicted and sentenced the two men through a judicial process on Oct 7 and 9. “Violations of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 on espionage are also included.”

It said that according to the sentence, the ranks of both the officers had been forfeited on Nov 21, adding that Raja and Mehdi were tried in absentia. Giving further details, the ISPR said a case was registered against the accused Raja on May 7 at the South Lahore Cantonment police station.

On June 18, a formal court proceeding was conducted against Raja. Raja received the summons through diplomatic channels. A second summons was issued to Raja on August 22, while 30-day time was given to appear in court.

On October 7, Raja was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment with hard labour for his continued absence from the court. Apart from this, a case was also registered against the other accused Mehdi on May 7 at the South Lahore Cantonment police station. The first summons was issued to the accused Mehdi on June 26. The summons was sent by Canada Post through registered mail, in which the court issued the summoned Mehdi on July 27.

The second summons was sent on August 28, in which the court summoned the accused on Sept 29. The second summons was also returned as it was not received. Resultantly, Mehdi was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour under Section 131 of the PPC. Both the accused were also provided with legal counsel.

As per the instructions of the court, the ISPR said, the personal movable and immovable properties of both the accused had also been confiscated. “At the same time, the bank accounts of both accused were frozen, passports and national identity cards were cancelled and their names were also put on the Exit Control List.”