In a case that has gained importance in at least the relevant circles, the military seems to be taking on one of its own with an iron hand. Brigadier Ali Khan, who was facing a court martial over having links with the banned militant outfit Hizb-ul-Tahrir, has been convicted on Tuesday by the military court of conspiring to topple the government, trying to instigate a mutiny within the army and planning an attack on the GHQ.
The final decision and sentencing will be announced after an approval from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), which may take anywhere between a few weeks to several months, according to military’s rules and regulations.
The case has its unique importance for the military and the government of Pakistan.
Soon after the May 2 raid of Osma bin Laden by the US in the garrison city of Abbottabad, some in the military and civil setup raised their voices in finding how a US Special Forces team could penetrate deep inside Pakistan’s territory without being detected, conduct a full scale military action for more than 40 minutes, kill Osma bin Laden, collect evidence, destroy one of their damaged helicopters and leave the country safe and without raising any alarm by the Pakistan military which has a strong presence in the area. Allegations of being complacent and incompetent soon flooded the media and talks between the countries.
Brig Ali was among those first few who questioned the role of Pakistan military and asked to take to task the responsible ones in this episode.
However, he was arrested on 6 May, 2011, from Rawalpindi where he planned to materialise his conspiracy. The court martial proceedings against Ali started last year in December, headed by a major general in Sialkot and concluded on 20 June, 2012. During the six-month long proceedings, five military officers recorded their testimonies from prosecution’s side.
The officers said that the defendant, Brig Ali, provoked them for mutiny against the civil leadership.
According to the rules and regulations, the military court will now send its written verdict to the Corps Commander, Gujranwala. Then it would be forwarded to the COAS before being publicly announced, which would happen only if it is allowed by the COAS.
If proven guilty, Brigadier Ali Khan could face death sentence.
Hizb-ul-Tahrir, which is banned in Pakistan as well as several other Muslim countries, professes non-violence and is not connected to terrorist groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or Al-Qaeda. But the outfit makes no secret of its desire to penetrate the armies of Muslim countries, particularly Pakistan, and foment an “Islamic coup” to establish a global “caliphate.”
Brig Ali’s lawyer has, however, a different story to tell. Khan’s lawyer, Inamur Rahim, says that he had contended in the court that court martial proceedings could not be initiated as his client had retired before the court initiated the proceedings, according to BBC Urdu. He said he told the court that the proceedings were a result of ill intent as his client was singled out for his popular demand of action against those responsible for US raid against Osama bin Laden. Mr Rahim said he had also moved the Lahore High Court but despite the issuance of six notices the army could not turn up to respond to his points.
This guy should have been given the highest medal for standing up for Pakistan's sovereignity. Nobody, not one single person, resigned for their failures to detect invasion of Pakistan by foreign forces. Nobody had the guts to take responsibility. Instead they are trying to silence one single person who stood up against whats wrong. They are doing this to cover up their own incompetence. In any other country of the world, the army chief would have resigned the very next day along with the interior ministerand the area commander. Was nobody responsible for the failure to detect invasion? Only in Pakistan can we have such cowards and shameless people in the highest possible posts. It also shows the character of the nation. It has none!!!
It's sad, but it's reality!
value system of our entire nation has been distroyed by ourselves…and we feel that someone else is responsible ….____This is called 'Azab'
My sympathies are with Brigadier Ali Khan and his family and let's we all pray:
La ilaha illa anta.. subhanaka inni kunto minaz zualimeen.
Fallaho khairun Hafiza
Wahowa Arhamur Rahimeen.
Daddy, I disagree. The last thing we want is military taking control of things it shouldn't get involved it.
He had no business, if anything, he & his so called 'establishment' should be working to clean the army of immense corruption & criminal acts. I dont think anyone of us is proud of Pakistani military because of its corruption at the highest level. We need to clean it & make it into the force it once was, i.e. the worst finest, bravest & most loyal defenders of the land.
The only good that could have come would have been the removal of kiyani who I despise more and more by the day.
apologies, it should be 'World's' not 'worst' 🙂
@SKfro. The reason that army has become so complacent is that the army chief has become too involved in everything else except working on their professional skills. Kiayani took an oath to defend Pakistan and he has broken that oath by not defending Pakistan and its borders. A man with character would have resigned long ago due to his immense failures in securing the borders of Pakistan and failing in his jobs miserably. Army has become, by far, the biggest business enterprise in the country. While concentrating on other ventures, they have totally ignored their professional duties. The blame, at present, lies with Kiayani. He is responsible for the armed forces.
D boy, you are delusional and are too much in love with this corrupt judiciary where it is better to buy a judge rather to get a good lawyer.
@ak_loaded, there is a saying that "its better to keep shut and let people think you're stupid than to speak up and confirm it". Your statement does not make sense. I think somebody fooled you when they gave you your script to write. Now crawl back in your hole and stay there.
Brig Ali did a noble thing. Kiyani is a sellout under his nose all this happened and as i write this he is entertaining Gen Allen.
Everyday innocent Pakistanis are killed in drone attacks and cross border special ops by US and Kiyani remains silence.
If ever an Islamic State is established Brig Ali should be given the highest military reward for speaking the truth and accounting military leadership.
More need to speak out and stand up for this criminal alliance with US to end!!
v r waiting for the courtmartail of ISI head of abbotabad region where osama was hiing and isi didnt know.
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