In a significant development, Major (rtd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (rtd) Haider Raza Mehdi, both Pakistan former army officers and prominent YouTube figures, have been sentenced to 14 and 12 years in jail, respectively, after facing a Field General Court Martial. The charges include “inciting sedition,” as announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan military’s media wing.
The ISPR stated that the retired officers were convicted and sentenced under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, for charges related to inciting sedition among army personnel, obstructing the discharge of duties, and violating the Official Secrets Act, 1923, concerning espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.
Major (rtd) Raja received a “14 years rigorous punishment,” while Captain (rtd) Mehdi was given a “12 years rigorous punishment.” According to the military’s statement, both individuals were convicted on October 7 and October 9, 2023, through due judicial process. Their ranks were forfeited on November 21, 2023, in accordance with the awarded sentence.
It is noteworthy that neither Raja nor Mehdi is expected to serve the sentence, as they are currently residing outside of Pakistan.
The convictions are presumed to be connected to the May 9 incidents, which witnessed widespread violence following the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. The unrest led to significant military installations coming under attack.
Earlier in June, Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station had booked four individuals, including Raja and Mehdi, for allegedly inciting a mob during the violent protests on May 9. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s caretaker minister for information, Feroze Jamal Shah Kakakhel, had accused Raja of being “involved in anti-state activities.”
The charges against the retired officers include various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, waging war against Pakistan, and abetting mutiny, along with sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Concerns have been raised by international organizations such as Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders over the use of sedition laws to “silence commentators and journalists.”
