ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy on Wednesday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that an official under the custody of Naval Intelligence is facing court martial proceedings in a ‘sensitive’ matter.
This is the second time in three months that representatives of the armed forces took such a stance before the court. Earlier, the IHC had disposed of an identical petition directing officials to proceed against the accused in accordance with the law.
However, the military official did not disclose details of the sensitive matter in open court and requested IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui to meet him in his chambers. Subsequently, the court heard the contentions of the naval official in his chambers.
IHC Justice Siddiqui was hearing a petition filed by Safia Ismail against the detention of her husband Sub Lt Ehsanullah Sajjad. According to the petition, Sub Lt Sajjad was taken away from his residence in Karachi by ‘some people in plain clothes’ on the evening of September 6, 2014.
During the routine proceedings, the naval official informed the IHC that the charges against Sajjad were grave in nature. He said that court martial proceedings against Sajjad were in progress and he would be tried in the naval tribunal.
Official’s wife filed petition against his detention, ongoing since September 2014
He, however, assured the court that the accused would be given proper opportunity for defence.
Ms Ismail’s counsel, retired Lt Col Inamur Rahiem said the naval authorities have allegedly detained Sajjad without lawful justification.
He requested the court to direct the authorities to arrange a meeting between Sajjad and his family.
The court accepted the request and passed the orders accordingly.
According to the petition, Sajjad had sought permission to resign from service in July 2014 for personal reasons and was awaiting a decision when he was picked up in September.
Earlier, in April this year, the same court had dealt with an identical matter related to detention of a Squadron Leader (Sq Ldr) Hassan Akhtar.
In this case, petitioner Dr Faiza Hassan, Sq Ldr Akhtar’s wife, challenged her husband’s detention.
The case was pleaded by the same lawyer. However after the PAF authorities informed the court the detained officer was facing espionage charges and was facing court martial proceedings, the court disposed of the petition.
Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2015
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