<\/p>\n
Major (rtd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (rtd) Haider Raza Mehdi, both former army officers with large following on YouTube, were handed 14 and 12 years of jail sentence respectively following their Field General Court Martial for \u201cinciting sedition\u201d, the military\u2019s media wing said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said both retired officers were convicted and sentenced \u201cunder the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from discharge of duties and violation of the provisions of Official Secrets Act, 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state\u201d.<\/p>\n
The ISPR said that Major (rtd) Raja was sentenced to \u201c14 years rigorous punishment\u201d while Captain (rtd) Mehdi was handed \u201c12 years rigorous punishment\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both the individuals on the date of Oct 7 and Oct 9, 2023, through due judicial process,\u201d the military said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPursuant to the awarded sentence, the ranks of both officers have been forfeited on Nov 21, 2023,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
Neither Raja, nor Mehdi is likely to serve the sentence as they are based outside of Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The convictions likely pertain to the May 9 incidents, when PTI Chairman Imran Khan\u2019s arrest<\/a> resulted in widespread violence<\/a> and saw important military installations come under attack<\/a>.<\/p>\n