Two retired Pakistan Army officers have been court-martialed for inciting sedition, the army announced on Saturday, indicating that controversial military court trials of those accused of unprecedented violence against military installations on May 9 have begun. Major (Retired) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (Retired) Haider Raza Mehdi were court-martialed and they “were convicted and sentenced through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel,” the Army said in a statement.
They have also violated the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the State, it said.
Major Raja was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Captain Mehdi was given 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. Both of them have been living abroad and were sentenced in absentia.
The court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both the individuals on October 7 and October 9, 2023, through due judicial process, the statement said, adding that the ranks of both officers were forfeited on November 21.
Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas told Geo News that Raja, who is known for his pro-Imran Khan stance, and Mehdi host vlogs on Youtube have been critical of the senior Army leadership through their social media posts and said he (Abbas) believes this is the beginning of the trials of people who were convicted after May 9 in military courts.
Hundreds of former prime minister Imran Khan's supporters had stormed military and government installations, and even torched a general's house, following the brief arrest of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party by the Punjab Rangers on May 9 in an alleged corruption case.