ISLAMABAD - Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench Justice Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi on Tuesday gave two weeks time to federation of Pakistan for submitting its reply in response to a petition filed by ex-serviceman challenging punishment awarded to him by military court for espionage. When the court took up the petition, filed by Lieutenant General (retd) Javed Iqbal through his lawyer, the Additional Attorney General (AAG) Javed Malik, appeared and sought time for submission of comments on behalf of federation of Pakistan.
It may be noted that a military court had sent Lt Gen (retd) Javed Iqbal behind the bars after convicting him for espionage. Lt Gen (retd) Javed Iqbal, who is in Adiala Jail had challenged his punishment before LHC Rawalpindi Bench through his lawyer Omer Faruq Adam. Justice Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi had directed the registrar office to fix it for hearing on a suitable date. On May 30, 2021, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had given his formal consent to the death sentences for Brig Haider and Dr Akram and 14-year imprisonment for Lt Gen (retd) Javed Iqbal on charges of espionage.
However, Javed Iqbal challenged his sentence. In his petition, Lt Gen (retd) Javed Iqbal argued that since he is a retired officer, the military law does not apply on him.
He also added the military authorities were not sharing with him the details related to the trial proceedings.