Links with banned group: Military court jails Brig Ali, four majors
Brig Ali was sentenced to five years in jail, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The four others – Major Sohail Akbar, Major Jawwad Baseer, Major Inayat Aziz and Major Iftikhar – were jailed for three years, two years, and 18 months each, respectively.
The ISPR statement did not name the group, but officials have in the past identified it as Hizbut Tahrir (HuT). The group, headquartered in Britain, does not advocate violence, but has been accused of links to violent extremist groups.
The HuT is working to rid the Islamic world of ‘corrupt rulers’ and establish a caliphate on the pattern of medieval Islam.
The ISPR said the convicted officers have the right to appeal, but provided no details.
The HuT is not banned in Britain, but has been outlawed in Pakistan and lies on the fringes of Western concerns about links between the military and militant groups.
Brig Khan was detained days after al Qaeda head honcho Osama bin Laden was killed in a top-secret US commando raid in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2, 2011.
Brig Khan had allegedly become exceedingly vocal on sensitive issues and had even called for the resignation of army and ISI chiefs over the Bin Laden debacle.
Family and lawyer deny that Brig Ali had links with the HuT and claimed that the main reason behind his detention and subsequent conviction appears to be his highly critical stance on the army’s high command and its relationship with the US.
According to the BBC, Brig Khan had started writing letters to army generals, some of whom were his former colleagues, with suggestions on how to become ‘self-reliant’ and “to purge the army of the American influence”.
He allegedly told senior officers such as Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that Pakistan’s ‘unconditional’ support to the Americans was creating an environment of resentment in the lower ranks of the army.
Brig Khan is known to have a ‘brilliant’ service record and comes from a family with three generations of military service.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732783305-0/Untitled-design-(6)1732783305-0-270x192.webp "watch robbers snatch rs5 5mln from citizen in karachi s quaidabad")
1732781365-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(65)1732781365-0.jpg "fugitive killed three arrested in karachi police encounter")
1732780655-0/Express-Tribune-(5)1732780655-0-270x192.webp "mdcat 2024 retake revised guidelines for sindh candidates")
for heavens sake how can one comment when this phone ad sits on top where we we have to click the post comment I have lost three comments like this
Those who ache for Khilafat are welcome to start it in Antarctica and display to the whole world how great it is. Otherwise HuT is just another power-hungry group seeking shortcuts to government.
@Kay: Maybe you are a slave of secularist satan, more so of your desire (nafs). We are the slaves of Allah, therefore talking about Khilafat and Ummah we wish to impose the order of Allah, not the order of arabs. if Arabs oppose the order of Allah, they will also be made to submit to the order of Allah.
now, if you want to debate about the imposition of the order of Allah, that's a whole different debate....
@Tariq, khilafat and Ummah, two big words for the slaves of Arabs. Can you go to Allah's house without a visa Mr Tariq? Also your Arab masters call you Maskeen so please forget about chasing Arabic masters and start thinking about finding your own identity.
@ Tariq, These officers spread their views using resources given by state which functions on our Tax money. This is the biggest treason of them all. Each button of his uniform is paid by our Tax money. He is not in a position to tell us how we live our lives. Brig. Ali's job was to follow orders, given to him by his superiors as his subordinates followed his orders. Writing e-mails and advising seniors was not his duty, nor he was paid salary and awarded benifits to waste time on his so called dreams. Stop advising us while using our money. Resign from government posts and stop stealing our money first.
@Tariq, democracy has never really taken root in Pakistan thanks to the army and extremist organizations. Across the border, in India, where democracy has been allowed to mature, the results speak for themselves.
Which Khilafat are you talking about? The real one or synonym for monarchy? Because real Khilafat is just another name for democracy and the second type of Khilafat was crushed underfoot by invading British troops in 1919. Please get your head out of the sand and face the real world.
Calling what they done a crime is indeed a bigger crime. "He allegedly told senior officers such as Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that Pakistan’s ‘unconditional’ support to the Americans was creating an environment of resentment in the lower ranks of the army." Read carefully before giving your false verdicts.
such a big crime (killing of innocents and destruction of govt. assets and insult) and such a small punishment. i am shocked.
No one is demanding "concrete evidence'? Did those men get a fair trail?, did they agree to being members of that group, or just because they send those emails, it proves their guilt ? ....Dont see men deserve the same chance and equality of law as Hafiz Saeed ?
Five years!!!!! isnt his actions tantamount of working against the state and should be considered as treason??? since i am against the law of death penalty, at least this men deserve an exemplary punishment i.e life imprisonment and heavy fine.. five and three years!!!! funny...and who knows they will complete this five years term.
major-ji, you are looking the issue wearing secular spectacles of the secular constitution, which allows you to even forgive US to kill your own Army men as well as civilians for securing some worldly benefits. If you wear the Islamic spectacles you would see this as the responsibility of each and every Muslim to work for Islam as a way of life i.e. socio-economic and political system. This is exactly what Mr. Ali was doing. He was fulfilling his covenant with his creator which is superior then any constitution.
Salala hype and now signing MOU, isn't it very sham full!!! How can a sincere person, let alone and army officer, tolerate this act of blatant treachery.
@Muhammad Hassan, very funny, is the current crises because of secular Demon-crazy/capitalism or people like us. BTW, why don't you guys stick to your Democratic principles, why don't you give HuT the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas, inst it unfair??? HuT is a well know global political organization, which has nothing to do with militancy, why is the so called free media reluctant to even take its name or discuss khilafah as an alternative ruling system to the failed Democracy, which has destroyed Pakistan since its inception?
FYI, conviction wont work, as its part of the struggle, my dear!!!!
Good point @major-ji. I was thinking the same. Where the constitution allows us our right to choose, the brig. actually should have been loyal enough to not break the laws of army and resigned before practicing his freedom of choice.
Overall, a positive decision.
Ameen.... history shows that you can not stop a thought from spreading until you beat that thought with a thought. IF HuT is calling for something which is not feasible or practical why is not the "independent media" exposing them by inviting them to the TV talk shows. They know very well that by doing so they will expose the grave fallacies of western secular ideology/capitalism. Naveed But's case is another good example of the massive retreat of secular democracy and corrupt military and civil leadership of Pakistan.
"... and khilafah will reestablish on the method of prophethood" (Masnad Ahmed)
@Tariq: Its because of people like you that Pakistani is currently in a ditch. But with the conviction of Brigadier Ali, one down, thousands to go.
Tariq sb...may Allah swt bless you.....
This is some thing encouraging, perhaps a first drop of rain after a very very long drouht.Go ahead GHQ.
@Tariq: What a funny argument you brought in. Being in Khaki that too while in active servcie which article of the service code gave him the authority to indulge in scuh acts. If he was fond of implementing his ideas he could have resigned, joined or made his own political party and could have contested the elections.
An eye opener how deeply the extremist penetrated not only in file and ranks but in officer cadre also. Might be complete scrutiny of those in Khaki required to avert any future repetition of such nature.
@ Allah daad,
That charge of attacking the GHQ was fabricated and was then dropped, FYI. Besides, establishing the Islamic state is an obligation upon each and every Muslim, irrespective weather he is in Army or not. He was fulfilling the commands of his creator. May Allah (swt) reward him for what he has done and the other Army men should follow his footsteps to get rid of US hegemony along with the false Demon-crazy and capitalism.
"Brig Khan had started writing letters to army generals, some of whom were his former colleagues, with suggestions on how to become ‘self-reliant’ and “to purge the army of the American influence”. TRY to understand!!!!!
This proves the old adage- Success has many fathers and Failure is an orphan.
Has the Brigadier succeeded in his attempted coup, he would have walked free like all other Military rulers.
He failed. And is now convicted.
The punishments to these officers prove one thing that conspiracy to kill army's top brass and mutiny against state is not a big crime in Pakistan. A pickpocketer would get more severe punishment.