COAS endorses death sentence for retired brigadier, a civilian for 'espionage, leaking information'
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Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa endorsed punishment to two senior retired Army officers and one civil officer "on the charges of espionage/ leakage of sensitive information to foreign agencies prejudice to the national security", a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Thursday.
"The officers were tried under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Official Secret Act by separate Field General Court Marshal (FGCM) for separate cases," said the statement issued by the military's media wing.
The following details, quoted verbatim, list the names of the three individuals and the punishment accorded to them:
- Retired Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal — awarded 14 years rigorous imprisonment
- Retired Brigadier Raja Rizwan — awarded death sentence
- Doctor Wasim Akram (Employed at Sensitive Organisation) — awarded death sentence
ISPR also released a video statement of Major General Asif Ghafoor confirming the arrest of the two officers and their court-marital.
"Reports started circulating in the media that two senior army officers were under arrest. Yes they are. There are two officers who are under military custody on the charges of espionage," the ISPR director general confirms in the video.
"The army chief has ordered a field general court martial which is under process."
Maj Gen Ghafoor said that both were separate cases and not linked to one another in any way "and there is no network as such".
"Please keep in mind that if we have been able to get them and identify the issue, it is a success.
"These things do happen [...] when the court martial process is complete, I will share whatever results emerge with you."
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Comments (109) Closed
May 30, 2019 06:29pm
Great .... we need to clean I side culprit
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May 30, 2019 06:33pm
The higher a post someone holds, the more responsibility is attached to it. But how come the general only serves a prison sentence while the brigadier is put to rest.
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May 30, 2019 06:40pm
Good lesson for next to be traitors.
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May 30, 2019 06:41pm
Thanks to our intelligence services for keeping an eye on nations's enemies.
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May 30, 2019 06:44pm
Long live Pak Army!
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May 30, 2019 06:45pm
Bravo.....
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May 30, 2019 06:50pm
Good. No mercy for enemies of the state.
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May 30, 2019 06:53pm
Indeed, a bold step to award death penalty to senior officers!
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May 30, 2019 06:55pm
Bravo, same should happen to civilians who looted the country
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May 30, 2019 06:56pm
Good! Apt punishment.
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May 30, 2019 07:01pm
Great decision
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May 30, 2019 07:04pm
Very BOLD decision. Treason must not go unpunished...
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May 30, 2019 07:07pm
Great. .
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May 30, 2019 07:13pm
This is real tabdeeli in one of apex institutes of state which will definitely leave considerable lesson to its critiques. .
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May 30, 2019 07:17pm
Good, transparency all across the board
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May 30, 2019 07:21pm
Really unfortunate it's sad.
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May 30, 2019 07:40pm
More to fall in line.
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May 30, 2019 07:42pm
Harsh penalties for serious crimes...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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May 30, 2019 07:45pm
A very serious matter and especially when senior officers are found to be involved in such espionage. Well done for taking a prompt action against them.
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May 30, 2019 07:49pm
@Shahid, I think it is due to the nature of crime. Its a good move and we should clean our country of corrupt people no matter wherever they are.
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May 30, 2019 07:50pm
What about Ishaq Dar?
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May 30, 2019 07:53pm
@Imran, separate case, different time
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May 30, 2019 07:54pm
Espionage cases be proved to be wrong allegations. If senior officer finds one of his subordinate very patriot... Then that subordinate will become scapegoat...
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May 30, 2019 07:57pm
Hardcore criminals need hardcore punishments !
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May 30, 2019 08:07pm
Let’s now see the civil side reciprocating
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May 30, 2019 08:08pm
So, What's the case?
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May 30, 2019 08:10pm
I wonder when Gen.Musharaf will get his punishment for abrogating the law.
I suggest for court Marshall for him also.
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May 30, 2019 08:12pm
no one has to betray his country.he should be punished.but militery court order should be checked.by higher juduciary.
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May 30, 2019 08:15pm
@Shahid, this is the military courts decision, based on evidence. The brigadiers crimes must have been more serious. Indian troll comment anyway.
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May 30, 2019 08:16pm
well done COAS.
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May 30, 2019 08:17pm
Thanks COAS. That is why we are the best Army in the world. Pak Army Zinda Baad,
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May 30, 2019 08:21pm
Anything like this can't happen without credible intelligence. Finally we hear about functional intelligence.
Precaution is better than cure. It saves both time and energy.
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May 30, 2019 08:21pm
COAS is a judge too these days, very impressive.
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May 30, 2019 08:26pm
Great that institutions are functioning. Treat the culprits in fairness and rightestly.
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May 30, 2019 08:37pm
But let common man know for whom or a country had done espionage by them
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May 30, 2019 08:37pm
...and corruption culprits??!
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May 30, 2019 08:43pm
Thank you General Bajwa.
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May 30, 2019 08:53pm
There are many many more within the ranks !!!
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May 30, 2019 09:00pm
Please extend this to corrupt politicians
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May 30, 2019 09:00pm
Great and courageous decision!
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May 30, 2019 09:04pm
@Mangesh, Who knows better than you guys. !
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May 30, 2019 09:17pm
@Pure ind, for you.
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May 30, 2019 09:19pm
Same principle should be applied to the politicians & other civilians.
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May 30, 2019 09:48pm
Wish these sentences could be applied to the looters of this country as well
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May 30, 2019 09:51pm
@Shahid, Both are diff cases not connected with each other. so punishment is according to crime
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May 30, 2019 10:28pm
No one can mess with Nuclear Power Pakistan
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May 30, 2019 10:57pm
if the army is not sparing their own men, it's a red flag for all corrupt politicians. the state means business
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May 30, 2019 11:16pm
@Shahid, Because both were separate cases and not linked to one another in any way. Please read the complete news story.
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May 31, 2019 12:02am
@worried: Gen Pervez Musharraf did not abrogate the Constitution nor betrayed oath of the institution nor of the country. He imposed emergency on Nov 3, 2007 and held certain articles of the constitution in “Abeyance”, for only 42 days. The government, assemblies and the courts continued working as usual.
Through jugglery of words, on July 31, 2009, the judicial activist, Iftikhar Chaudhry, ex-CJ converted Musharraf’s act of suspension of certain articles of the constitution for a short duration into high treason. He stated that, “It is hereby firmly laid down that the holding in abeyance of the Constitution or any other act having the effect of discontinuing its operation and enforceability for a single moment in a manner not authorized under it is nothing but its overthrowing, so to say, its subversion and thus constitutes the offence of high treason.
His logic was not correct, therefore necessity was felt to amend Article 6(1), on April 2010, through the 18 amendment.
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May 31, 2019 12:55am
What about people who looted billions from people in ponzi property schemes? I am one of the affectee.
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May 31, 2019 01:02am
Long Live Pak army. Zindabad.
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May 31, 2019 01:03am
How they reached at this rank?
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May 31, 2019 01:20am
@Shafiq Chughtai, So why did Raheel Shareef let Musharraf flee the country under his watch? Musharraf executed US will in Pakistan. I cannot think of a greater 'treason'.
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May 31, 2019 01:21am
@Zaid khan, Just imagine nuclear contamination of the Indus River. Wonder who'll be messed with then?
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May 31, 2019 01:29am
Judge, jury and executioner.
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May 31, 2019 01:32am
Hello, am I missing something here.... it could as well have been my name or yours on the list.... and everyone would just believe it. Forget PM Bhutto?
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May 31, 2019 01:42am
Good!
What about Crooks Generals such as:
- Former COAS Gen. (r) Mirza Aslam Baig (Mehran Bank Scandal)
- Gen. retd Ashraf Qazi (Railway Locomotives, Over size Bogies, Royal
Palm Golf Course etc. etc)
- NLC Generals
- LPG Generals
- Gen Maqbool (Willful Bank Defaulter of Band of Punjab)
.
.
Apparently, Cricketer Shahid Afridi never heard about these Generals and their scandals.
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May 31, 2019 01:43am
What about Altaf Hussain?
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May 31, 2019 01:45am
Good move Gen.
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May 31, 2019 01:48am
This is lesson to the others a that no one is above
the law and that no can escape accountability.
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May 31, 2019 01:51am
Curious to know who they were all accused of spying for; if it's on behalf of another country, there are only a few possibilities for that; it's either Iran, Afghanistan, China, India, or more likely the US, fishing for some secrets about Pakistan's nuclear program, and which can pay big bucks for some tasty tidbits. Would the Pakistani people ever find out?
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May 31, 2019 01:57am
@Zaid khan, maybe not but it’s nuclear power cannot save it from drowning in its own mess right now!
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May 31, 2019 01:59am
If marshal law is imposed in Pakistan today, according to the constitution of Pakistan, General Bajwa will finish these looters for ever. I wish it happens.
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May 31, 2019 02:23am
Excellent precedence!! We want same for civilian leaders who plundered the wealth of country also.
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May 31, 2019 02:24am
@Hani_Layyah, "This is real tabdeeli in one of apex institutes of state which will definitely leave considerable lesson to its critiques. ."
Real tabdeeli will happen when it is the courts who pass these judgements...
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May 31, 2019 02:52am
What about Musharraf?
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May 31, 2019 02:54am
They are getting rid "retired" high ranking officers?. Very suspicious and fishy to be honest.
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May 31, 2019 02:55am
Excellent work.
Country comes first.
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May 31, 2019 03:01am
@Shahid, please read what the ISPR is saying. These are separate cases and not linked and therefore different punishments
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May 31, 2019 03:20am
@Sachin, You don't need to know.
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May 31, 2019 03:27am
Too little too late.
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May 31, 2019 03:35am
No details about the case. At least provide them chance to defend.
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May 31, 2019 03:37am
Good job please root out all such element in armed forces, police, judges and politicians etc plz save this country
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May 31, 2019 03:41am
Unfortunately, corruptions, mal-administrations., etc, are in every aspect of life in the country.
The departments and institutions are not the holy cow.
Accountability for all - army officials, civil officials, politicians, religious clerics in politics., etc.
No mercy at all.
Then Pakistan will become free of corruption country.
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May 31, 2019 04:03am
love Ghafoor, take all the responsibility to clean the country
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May 31, 2019 04:10am
@Shahid, because both were separate cases and not linked to one another in any way.
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May 31, 2019 04:25am
I am not in favour of military courts in general due to their proper qualifications and professional, unbiased skill set that is essential for providing justice but when civil judiciary is ridiculously slow and ineffective, that is the way to go. We can’t wait anymore. Therefore it is an excellent decision and politician must be lined up too. We got hundreds if not thousands.
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May 31, 2019 04:47am
@Shahid, All three were different cases
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May 31, 2019 05:01am
While the civilian courts are failing to punish the rich and powerful.....
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May 31, 2019 05:05am
Now we can take PTM leaders the same way..
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May 31, 2019 06:34am
Sad
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May 31, 2019 06:52am
All of this is too complicated. We the common man are only shown the tip of the iceberg. I don't like to comment good or bad on such news where the information provided is not sufficient
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May 31, 2019 06:58am
share the info … what info has been leaked?
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May 31, 2019 07:11am
Do they deserve such sentence?
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May 31, 2019 07:11am
What information was given and to whom?
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May 31, 2019 07:25am
Great step taken by the chief. What is good is good for all.
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May 31, 2019 07:48am
What specific information was leaked and of such magnitude that these sentences are warranted?
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May 31, 2019 07:52am
This has happened first time in the history although good step it is, lets see motives behind it.
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May 31, 2019 08:00am
With lack of transparency one doesn't know whether its actually a case of espionage or internal politics playing out. When things are done behind a smokescreen the biggest victim is always the truth.
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May 31, 2019 08:21am
What are Pakistani courts for ? How can military be the policeman, judge and jury all rolled into one ? Do any rules apply to Pakistan military at all or can they do whatever they want?
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May 31, 2019 08:59am
Giving death sentences makes Pakistan look like a medieval country.
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May 31, 2019 09:07am
Is it
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May 31, 2019 09:13am
ISPR should share the crime they committed and what level of damage they done to Pakistan
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May 31, 2019 09:54am
Are politicians not checked for leaking info?
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May 31, 2019 10:14am
It is the one institution with right systems.
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May 31, 2019 10:49am
I think this will serve as a lesson to new comers. Security in Pakistan is very serious it makes and breaks Pakistan. If the highest level officers started selling info to foreign countries then security of the nation is at risk. Pakistan is already going through tough times and these people are making it worst. Hats off to COAS for teaching them lesson.
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May 31, 2019 11:15am
How about Corruption ? Don't tell me no generals are involved in that !
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May 31, 2019 11:17am
They transferred the info to china
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May 31, 2019 11:34am
Art of War! Bravo
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May 31, 2019 11:41am
@Suhail, Buttering is the only option!
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May 31, 2019 11:54am
@Shahid, Think about it, both cases are not linked, one got handed the death sentence, my guess is, his role in the case was a lot more serious, to put it simply.
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May 31, 2019 12:11pm
@Ahmed, "What about Altaf Hussain?" Is he a general?
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May 31, 2019 12:50pm
Sounds like a future leader is eliminated with conspiracy ?
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May 31, 2019 12:56pm
When a serious punishment like death sentence is given, one has to make sure there are no errors in the judgement. But here, action is swift. What if it is proved long later? Just bury the info?
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May 31, 2019 01:28pm
Brave afert. To hang those landtraitors
Next. On the row politician
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May 31, 2019 02:06pm
This is going to raise a lot of questions about IK's position in running Pak.
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May 31, 2019 05:36pm
where is supreme court ?
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May 31, 2019 06:47pm
I think it is the job of the Judiciary to award sentences to citizens of any country, military can only hold an inquiry and Court Martial the concerned officers.
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May 31, 2019 10:51pm
Soft recruitment and promotion policies has led to this!
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