RAWALPINDI
Pakistan Army sentenced 2 retired officers Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi through court martial.
According to the Public Relations Department of the Pakistan Army, both retired officers of the Pakistan Army, Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi, have been declared Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. Both were convicted on charges of sedition, violating the provisions of the Official Secrets Act 1923 and acting against the security and interest of the State.
ISPR said that the court on October 7 and October 9, 2023, convicted the two men under the trial and pronounced the verdict, under which Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment while Capt. (Retired) Haider Raza Mehdi was sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment.
According to ISPR statement, the ranks of both the officers have been forfeited from November 21, 2023 as punishment.
Adil Raja and Haider Mehdi were convicted of inciting military personnel to mutiny, espionage and violating certain provisions of the Official Secrets Act, which deal with threats to national security.
ISPR said, a case was registered against the accused Adil Raja on May 7, 2023 in the South Lahore Cantt police station, on June 18, 2023, formal court proceedings were conducted against Adil Raja. First summons issued on 19 June 2023, Adil Raja received the summons through diplomatic channels. The second summon was issued to Adil Raja on 22 August 2023, while 30 days time was given to appear in the court.
Adil Raja was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment with hard labor on 7 October 2023 for his continued absence from the court.
Apart from this, a case was also registered against the other accused Haider Mehdi on May 7, 2023 in the South Lahore Cantt police station.
First summons was issued to the accused Haider Mehdi on 26th June 2023, the summons was sent by Canada Post registered mail in which the court summoned the accused Haider Mehdi on 27th July 2023 but the summons was sent back without receiving.
Second summon was sent on 28th August 2023 in which the court summoned the accused on 29th September 2023, the second summon was also returned without receipt.
Court sentenced Haider Mehdi to 12 years of imprisonment with hard labor under section 131 of the Pakistan Penal Code for his continued absence in the case.
Both accused were also provided with legal counsel, Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi were already charged under Pakistan Penal Code (PPC 1860), Pakistan Electronic Crime Act (PECA 2016) and Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA 1997). He was charged with sedition, defamation, crime against the state, incitement.
Accused were declared absconder by the court for sedition, terrorism and incitement of violence. Immovable and movable properties were also seized, bank accounts of the two accused were frozen, passports and CNICs were canceled and both were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
