The Pakistan Army has recently court-martialed two retired officers, Major (Retired) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (Retired) Haider Raza Mehdi, sentencing them to 14 and 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, respectively.
The court-martial, conducted through the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, found them guilty of inciting sedition among army personnel, violating the Official Secrets Act, 1923, related to espionage, and engaging in acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the State.
As of November 21, 2023, the ranks of both officers have been forfeited. The court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged them on October 7 and October 9, 2023, following due judicial process, as announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan military.
Both Adil Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi are reported to be living outside the country, with Adil Raja in London and Haider Raza Mehdi in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The court proceedings revealed that the former officers were engaged in propaganda against state institutions, with some of their tweets containing foul language against the current military leadership of Pakistan.
It is noted that there may be efforts to bring the two former officers back to Pakistan, considering the possibility of bilateral agreements with the countries where they are residing.
The court martial decision reflects the military’s stance against individuals engaging in activities deemed detrimental to the country’s security and interests.
