Pakistani army convicts 5 officers for extremist group links

Pakistani army convicted five serving army officers for having links with a banned extremist group, the military said Friday. They were tried by a military court over the past few months on charges that they had links with Hizb-ul-Tehrir group. An army statement said that Field General Court Marshal (FGCM) proceedings against Brigadier Ali Khan, Major Inayat Aziz, Major Iftikhar, Major Sohail Akbar and Major Jawad Baseer have been completed. All accused have been convicted besides other, of the charges for having links with a proscribed organization, the statement said. The FGCM have awarded a sentence of five years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) to Brigadier Ali Khan, Major Sohail Akbar has been handed down three years RI while Major Jawad Baseer sentenced to two years RI, whereas Major Inayat Aziz and Major Iftikhar have been awarded one year and six months RI each. Convicts have the right to appeal against conviction before the Army court of appeals as provided in the Pakistan Army Act, the statement said. Brig. Ali Khan and his family had denied all the charges when the local media had reported his arrest in May last year.