Pak Army sentences retired officers Adil Raja, Haider Raza for 'inciting sedition'

• Adil Farooq Raja, Haider Raza Mehdi sentenced to 14, 12 years.
• Journalist says this could be start of military trials of civilians. 
• Former officers to be expedited to Pakistan through Interpol. 

RAWALPINDI: Two retired officers of the Pakistan Army have been convicted and sentenced for "inciting sedition" under the Army Act and violations of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. 

"Major (Retired) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (Retired) Haider Raza Mehdi, both retired officers of the Pakistan Army, were convicted and sentenced through Field General Court Martial (FGCM)," said the military's media wing. 

"The retired officers have been sentenced under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from the discharge of duties and violation of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state."

The statement added that the court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both individuals on the date of 7th and 9th October 2023, through a due judicial process. Major (retd) Raja has been given 14 years of rigorous imprisonment while Captain (retd) Mehdi is awarded 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, it said. 

"Pursuant to the awarded sentence, the ranks of both officers have been forfeited on November 21, 2023," added the ISPR.

Both the court-martialled former servicemen are based outside Pakistan at the moment.

'Start of military trials'

Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, while speaking to Geo News, said that both of the convicted officers were introduced to the public through social media.

"If you watch their vlogs, they talked about the Pakistan Army, and especially the vlogs after May 9 targeted the establishment. In journalism we say that negativity always sells which can be seen [in their vlogs]," said Abbas.

He said that he believes this is the beginning of the trials of people who were convicted after May 9 in military courts.

"I believe that this is the start of military trials of the civilians. So far, we don't know how many other retired officers are under custody or are being court-martialled. However, I believe this is the start of the hearing of the people who were charged after the May 9 violence and we can expect that their trials will be fast-paced no matter if they are held in civilian or anti-terrorism courts. I believe that these cases will be concluded very soon," added the senior journalist.

‘Clear message’ to saboteurs

National Security expert Syed Muhammad Ali said that these punishments hold much importance as both of the convicts are retired army officers who escaped from the country and had a lot of corruption cases filed against them.

"They started a campaign on social media to keep the attention away from their cases. Through this campaign, they spread hateful and fake propaganda against the army by sitting abroad," Ali said while speaking to Geo News.

“There are four important aspects of the national security in this regard. One of them is that their whole narrative from the last two years is to incite hatred and sedition among the people against the army and to damage the trust they have in the armed forces,” he mentioned.

Their second goal, the expert added, was to spread misconception and sedition against the military among the army personnel and the third was to cover their corruption cases.

The fourth one is that both these officers belonged to a family which had a lot of members in the army, he stated.

"This is very embarrassing and a big mark on their families' sacrifices. They were given multiple chances to defend themselves in the last couple of years, however, they did not come forward to defend themselves as all the proofs were available against them," he added.

“These punishments are important to maintain the morale of the rank and file of the army, to maintain discipline and to tell the people that if people within the army act against their institution, harm the national security, or promote foreign agenda then they will also be punished.”

"But their case cannot be completely viewed in relation to the May 9 as since the last two years, almost every single one of their vlogs was to spread hatred against the army, mutiny among army personnel, malign the army, and harm Pakistan's name internationally," he added.

When asked if they will be called back to Pakistan through Interpol, Ali said that the process has already been started as steps have been taken regarding their passports and ID cards.

"Their red warrants will be issued through Interpol and they will be extradited to Pakistan so that they can be punished," he said.