Pakistan COAS endorses death sentence for retired brigadier and a civilian for "espionage"

Pakistan military court, a field general court martial (FGCM), has recently awarded punishment to two senior retired Army officers and one civil officer on the charges of espionage/ leakage of sensitive information to foreign agencies prejudice to the national security. The officers were tried under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and Official Secret Act by separate FGCM for separate cases, as informed by the Pakistan military’s media wing. The three individuals who have been awarded punishments are:

1.     Retired Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal — awarded 14 years rigorous imprisonment

2.     Retired Brigadier Raja Rizwan — awarded death sentence

3.     Doctor Wasim Akram (Employed at Sensitive Organisation) — awarded death sentence

These punishments have been confirmed by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. There is no statutory right to appeal against the punishment awarded by the FGCM, however, a convicted person may make mercy petition to the Chief of the Army Staff. After an amendment to the Pakistan Army Act issued in 2015 (Act No. XIX), the trial by FGCM have become most notorious and secretive under the military legal system in Pakistan. The Convening officer or the military court may make an order for not publishing the names of court officials, witnesses, prosecutors and even defending officers provided to an accused.

Brief information about the trial is available at newspaper Dawn<https://www.dawn.com/news/1485510>