ISLAMABAD: The Army’s Field General Court Martial (FGCM) convicted a retired officer for “inciting sedition among military personnel”.

A statement issued on Tuesday by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said: “Lt Col Akbar Hussain, a retired officer of Pakistan Army, was convicted and sentenced under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from discharge of duties.”

The court adjudged him ‘guilty’ of the offence charged, th­­r­­ough due judicial process, and awa­r­ded him 14 years of rigorous impriso­nm­ent on May 10, it added.

The rank of the officer stood forfeited on July 26, it said.

Akbar Hussain is the third army officer to be convicted of inciting sedition since October last year.

Earlier, Adil Fa­­ro­­oq Raja and Hai­der Raza Mehdi were convicted on charges of “inciting se­­dition among army personnel from discharge of duties” and violation of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

The law is applicable to offences like espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state.

The FGCM found Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi guilty on Oct 7 and 9, respectively, and awarded them 14 and 12 years rigorous imprisonment. The two officers were stripped of their ranks on Nov 21.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024