Pakistan jails 5 top officers over links to banned groupAugust 4, 2012 - 16:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Pakistani military court has convicted five senior officers of links with a banned organization, BBC News said. The most senior of the five, Brig Ali Khan, was handed a five-year prison sentence. The others received sentences of 18 months to three years. The army did not name the organisation they were linked with. But officials have in the past identified it as Hizb ut-Tahrir - a British-based Islamic group that is banned in Pakistan. The army said the convicts have the right to appeal, but gave no further details. Brig Khan was arrested following the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a US raid in Pakistan in May last year. He was initially charged with conspiring to overthrow the civilian government, but some charges were later dropped. Brig Khan has been highly critical of the Pakistani army command over its relationship with the US. In his statement to the court, he said was being victimised for speaking out against officers who he said had let the al-Qaeda leader live in Pakistan for five years - and then allowed US forces to kill him. During the court-martial proceedings witnesses - mostly army officers - told the court Brig Khan wanted to bring about an "Islamic revolution". They said he was working with Hizb ut-Tahrir to establish a caliphate in Pakistan. The group does not advocate violence but has been accused of links to militants. The four others convicted are Maj Sohail Akbar, who received a three-year sentence, Maj Jawad Baseer, who got two years, and Maj Inayat Aziz and Maj Iftikhar, who received one-and-a-half year sentences. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |