Rawalpindi: Court martial proceedings have not been initiated against Brig Ali Khan, who has been in detention for two months, for links to banned Hizb ul Tehrir.
Spokesperson of Pakistan army Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed that detained Brigadier had not been formally charge sheeted so far, therefore proceedings of court martial had not been started against him.
Col (Retd) Muhammad Akram, former chief of JEG branch of Pakistan army was of the view that it was compulsory to provide charge sheet within 32 days after an army personal is detained for the purpose of court martial.
Pakistan military spokesman said the accused had been arrested after credible evidence was found with regard to his links with banned Hizb ul Tehrir.
Denying to acknowledge as illegal the act of keeping Brig Ali under detention without serving him any charge sheet, Athar Abbas said the period for issuing charge sheet could be extended in connection with investigation and completion of legal formalities.
On the other side, some workers of HT have been arrested under the charges of inciting Brig Ali to mutiny. Abbas also confirmed that some other persons of the banned outfit were also being investigated.
Naveed Butt, Hizb ul Tehrir’s Spokesman, said at least four workers of their organization had been arrested during the last few weeks from Islamabad and Multan. He maintained that he did not know if his associates from outfit had been arrested for their alleged links with Brig Ali or any case had been registered against them.
According to sources, service tenure of Brig Ali had been extended for the purpose of his court martial. Service term of this senior most Brig of Pakistan army had expired on April, 9 and no notification in terms of extension in his service had been issued.
As per army rules and regulations service tenure of the said officer stands extended automatically in the event of non-issuance of notification.
