ISLAMABAD -UNS/BBC: Former Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal, who was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court for espionage and providing sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies, was released from Adiala Jail after two and a half years of his sentence.
Former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had confirmed the sentence of imprisonment with hard labor awarded to Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal in May 2019, but he has now been released after two and a half years.
Adiala Jail officials told the BBC that Lt Gen Retd Javed Iqbal has been released after serving his sentence and completing all legal requirements, but there is no statement from the army’s public relations department.
According to the officials of Adiala Jail,as per documents provided to them, Javed Iqbal had filed appeals against the sentence of 14 years imprisonment with hard labor in the military court.
According to the Adiala Jail authorities, on the first appeal against the sentence, his sentence was reduced from fourteen years to seven years, while on the second appeal, his sentence was reduced by another three years, thereby increasing his sentence from 14 years. It was reduced to only a year.
According to the jail authorities, he was released due to his good conduct in the remaining time and finally he was released after completing his sentence.
According to the jail authorities, following the jail manual in this case, he was released from jail after completing his sentence.
What crime was proven on the ex-military officer?
On May 30, 2019, a press release issued by the Public Relations Department of the Pakistan Army stated that two soldiers, including former Lt. Gen. Javed Iqbal, and a civilian officer were sentenced to prison and death on charges of espionage. The (then) Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed.
According to ISPR, among the officers who were punished were retired Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal, a former Brigadier Raja Rizwan and a civil officer Wasim Akram.
According to the statement, these officers were involved in providing sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies and were found guilty of espionage, after which they were punished.
It may be recalled that other persons namely former Brigadier Raja Rizwan and Dr Waseem Akram, who were posted as engineers in a sensitive institution, were sentenced to death. Both these officers are currently serving their sentences.
Who is Lieutenant General Retired Javed Iqbal?
Lieutenant General (retd) Javed Iqbal was part of the army when General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was the Army Chief. During his military career, he commanded Triple One Brigade as Brigadier.
As a Major General, he was also appointed as Director General of Military Operations. Planning of military operations across the country is the responsibility of this directorate of the army.
He commanded the Bahawalpur Corps as Lt. General while he was posted as Adjutant General on staff appointment. It is the branch of the army which is responsible for maintaining the discipline and accountability process in the army and in case of any violation determines the punishment according to the military rules.
Former Brigadier Raja Rizwan, who was sentenced to death along with Javed Iqbal, has been posted as Pakistan’s defense attache in Germany, apart from the command of the brigade.
‘Official Secrets Act’
It should be noted that in case of holding any constitutional post in the country, be it military or civil, the officer concerned has to sign the ‘Official Secret Act’, which binds him for life to not Do not share confidential information of any kind with anyone at any stage.
