PNS Mehran: Base commander, including three officers court-martialed

The officers were found irresponsible and negligent of their duties. They have not been given a jail sentence.

KARACHI: Almost a year after it was attacked, a military court hearing the PNS Mehran base attack, court-martialed three officers, Express News reported on Monday.

According to details, an investigation team comprising police, navy, air force and intelligence agencies, had found Base Commander Commodore Raja Tahir, Commanding Officer Israr, Air Base Security Officer Lieutenant Commander Absar irresponsible and negligent of their duties.

Sources said that the court had handed down sentences a few days ago, in line with Pakistan Navy laws. They added that the defendants were given equal chances to clear their names.

While they have been sentenced, no details of the extent of their punishments were revealed, except that they were not given a jail term.

As many as 10 terrorists had managed to storm the naval base in Karachi on May 22, 2011. They held off security personnel for 17 hours, destroying two P3C Orion surveillance aircraft in the process. At least 17 personnel were also killed in the attack.