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Pak army tries 5 officers over extremist ties
ISLAMABAD: Security officials say the Pakistani army has started court martial proceedings against a brigadier and four other officers over suspected ties to a banned extremist group that has called for ousting the US-backed government.
| Sounds like the usual office politics in Pak-land... |
Brig. Ali Khan and four other officers were detained in May, 2011 for suspected links to the Hizb-ut-Tahrir group. Khan was working at the army's headquarters near the capital Islamabad at the time of his arrest. Khan's family has denied the allegations against him.
Two senior security officials said the military trial started recently but did not provide any other details. It was also not clear yet where the trial is taking place and what punishment the officers face, if convicted.
| Sent to the International Criminal Court to listen to Carla del Ponte? |
Hizb-ut-Tahrir is banned in Pakistan because of its extremist propaganda. The group also works to re-establish the Islamic caliphate and campaigns in Pakistan against the country's alliance with the Unites States in the war on terror.
Western officials have long suspected some Pakistani military officials of having ties to Islamist groups.
| No, really? Where'd they get those crazy ideas? |
Khan's lawyer, retired Col. Inam Rahim, said after the arrest that his client was detained for demanding that someone within the military be held accountable for the covert US Navy SEALs raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad.
Posted by: Steve White 2012-02-12 |
