Context & Insight
Hamid Hussain, our regular contributor, has a commentary on the verdicts; below is an edited down version, if the full text is required PM me please:The references to the PTM are explained on a parallel thread which cites this BBC report:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48139648Pakistan army spokesperson announced on 30 May 2019 that two army officers and one civilian were tried by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) for spying and passing information to foreign intelligence agencies and convicted. No details were provided about charges and results of investigations. Usually FGCM proceedings are not made public. Army is very concerned about the negative fallout especially public opinion and generally restricts circulation of any negative information. This is true of all armies and Pakistan army is no exception. However, in 21st century, a candid discourse barring release of sensitive or operational details, sharing general information prevents speculation and rumours. This enhances the strength of the institution where public has more trust in the accountability process of the institution. It will take some time before we know the details of this incident when officers involved in investigations and FGCM proceedings provide details. Retired Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Awan was awarded fourteen years imprisonment and retired Brigadier Raja Rizwan Haider and a civilian Dr. Wasim Akram were awarded death sentence. It is likely that some other officers who came under the radar during this investigation will face inquiry and many a career will end. Some innocents will go down with the guilty.
Javed is from a military family and from traditional recruiting grounds of Chakwal. His father was Major, and his brother retired at Colonel rank. After his early education at Military College Sarai Alamgir, he joined Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) at Kakul. He was commissioned in 9th Frontier Force Regiment. He was an above officer but a very hard-working individual. His career path was typical of an officer destined for higher ranks. He served as instructor at PMA and Staff College Quetta and commanded Rawalpindi based 111 Brigade. He attended United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After promotion to Major General rank, he first commanded a division in Bahawalpur and then Jhelum. He was then appointed Director General Military Operations (DGMO). This is most important posting at Major General rank and usually held by an officer destined for further promotion. In April 2011, he was promoted to Lieutenant General rank and appointed Adjutant General (AG) and in December 2013, he was appointed Corps Commander of XXXI Bahawalpur Corps. He retired in April 2015.
Brigadier Raja Rizwan Haider is from Khanpur. His father was a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of Engineers. Rizwan completed his early education from cadet college Hassan Abdal; a nursery for Pakistan army officers. He joined 68th PMA course and commissioned in 10th Frontier Force Regiment. He was a bright officer and successfully climbed promotion ladder serving at command, staff and instructional appointments. He commanded a Brigade in tribal areas with good reputation. He served as Defence Attaché in Germany from 2009-12. He was superseded at Brigadier rank and retired in 2014. He is a handsome chap and fond of pretty faces.
Javed Iqbal and Rizwan were likely recruited when they were posted abroad. Recruitment inside Pakistan is very difficult due to robust counter-intelligence operations of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). We don’t know what kind of information was passed on. Javed had served as DGMO and in that position privy to all operational plans. It is not clear how much information DGMO has about nuclear assets deployment. If he is in the loop, then this information is very valuable. There is no available evidence of any other motive and it appears that financial gain was main motive. It is almost certain that CIA recruited him.
I have not been able to confirm if Rizwan did a stint at Counter Terrorism directorate of ISI. If he had served at ISI, then information about Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations is the information he may have passed. In his capacity as Brigade commander or as Defence Attaché in Germany, there is nothing unique information that he possessed. He had a liking for pretty faces and in addition to money, there is possibility of a ‘honey trap’. It is not clear whether he was cultivated by CIA or RAW. Some sources suggest that IB stumbled on his case during a raid to net some other culprits. Both officers were arrested in September-October 2018. In January 2019, military spokesperson admitted that they were in custody for espionage charges.
Dr. Wasim Akram is a PhD doctor and worked in a nuclear facility. He was likely recruited by CIA to pass on information about the work he was familiar with. Army spokesperson claimed that these cases were separate and not part of a network. Even if same agency had recruited them, such operations are usually run in ‘silos’ where one team usually does not know about the work of the other team. This is essential to prevent unravelling of multiple projects if one set of birds is netted.
Two separate trials of accused were held under Pakistan Army Act and Official Secrets Act. Few months ago, I had heard that capital punishment was on the cards that suggested seriousness of the charges. Punishment also is based on the nature of the information leaked. All leaks are not equal. We don’t know the exact nature of charges and evidence It is a sad chapter that has come to an end. These are the spider webs of the dark art and gods of espionage sometimes want human sacrifice.
Javed Iqbal was sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment while Brigadier Rizwan and Dr. Wasim Akram were sentenced to death. The question is whether difference of sentence relates to the nature of information passed on or which agency recruited them. If the nature of crime is same but Wasim got capital punishment because he divulged nuclear secrets; a more serious crime and Rizwan passed on information to RAW; a sure ticket to gallows. Some are asking question whether Javed was spared the gallows because of his rank and connections while JCO’s son sent to gallows. They are of the view that being senior and privy to more sensitive information; if crime is same then he should have faced the same sentence. Another question that must be on the minds of senior officers involved in sentencing is the climate in the country. Recently, army has taken a very hard stance against Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) accusing them to be agents of hostile intelligence agencies. In this environment, showing leniency to fellow officers who are not simply accused but convicted of this crime would not go well.
This decision of army brass was a correct one and even harshest critics of army have praised the army brass. However, now pause and reflection is needed. I see a clear and present danger, where some senior officers citing this evidence advocating for maximum punishment for PTM leaders now under custody. The two cases are totally different and any such action either due to anger or arrogance will have very serious consequences.
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