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Monday May 20, 2024

Adil Raja, Haider Mehdi have no association with PTI, says party

PTI leader says earlier same YouTubers spearheaded social media campaigns against Qureshi, Parvez Elahi too

By Web Desk
March 05, 2024
PTI leaders Sher Afzal Marwat (R) and Asad Qaiser (L) sitting on sofa chairs at an undisclosed location are recording a video statement against two YouTubers on March 4, 2024. —@sherafzalmarwat/X
PTI leaders Sher Afzal Marwat (R) and Asad Qaiser (L) sitting on sofa chairs at an undisclosed location are recording a video statement against two YouTubers on March 4, 2024. —@sherafzalmarwat/X  

ISLAMABAD: Warning the public not to trust the YouTubers and former army officers Adil Raja and Haider Mehdi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said it has no association with them.

While accompanied by Sher Afzal Marwat and other party leaders, PTI leader Asad Qaiser declared his party had no affiliation with Raja and Mehdi.

In a video statement, Qaiser attacked the social media activists’ defamatory campaign against Marwat, saying, "The PTI has its own media and spokespersons, therefore, the statement issued by only these official platforms should be acknowledged."

The PTI leader said earlier the same YouTubers spearheaded social media campaigns against Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Parvez Elahi as well.

He also said the PTI leaders never spoke against the military but their struggle related to the constitution and law would continue. He also quoted the PTI founder as saying that he the country and army belonged to him.

“We just want supremacy of the constitution and law,” he maintained.

Military court sentences Raja, Mehdi to rigorous imprisonment

On November 25, 2023, the two retired officers of the Pakistan Army, Raja and Mehdi, had been convicted and sentenced for "inciting sedition" under the Army Act and violations of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said, "Major (retired) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retired) Haider Raza Mehdi, both retired officers of the Pakistan Army, were convicted and sentenced through Field General Court Martial (FGCM).

"The retired officers have been sentenced under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from the discharge of duties and violation of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state."

The military's media wing had said that the court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both individuals on the date of 7th and 9th October 2023, through a due judicial process. Major (retd) Raja had been given 14 years of rigorous imprisonment while Captain (retd) Mehdi was awarded 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, it had said.

"Pursuant to the awarded sentence, the ranks of both officers have been forfeited on November 21, 2023," the ISPR had added.

Both the court-martialled former servicemen are based outside Pakistan at the moment.