FuryMarshal Javad Saeed of leaking sensitive base details to his US-basedbrother, amid wife’s court battle claiming retaliation for exposing airchief’s corruption in a white paper.Caption:Retired officer’s wife fights courts for court-martial details amidPAF’s explosive spy charges.
ISLAMABAD: The protracted legal saga surrounding retired Air Marshal JavedSaeed of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has taken a dramatic turn, with themilitary establishment unveiling explosive allegations of sensitiveinformation leaks that could undermine national security. Sentenced toimprisonment following a field general court-martial, Saeed’s case hasignited fierce debate. For months, his wife, Shazia Javed, has waged arelentless battle through the courts of Islamabad and Lahore, demanding thefull disclosure of charges that led to her husband’s downfall. Her appeals,filed before the Islamabad High Court and later the Lahore High Court,underscore a desperate quest for justice in a system shrouded in secrecy.
In a candid interview with the BBC, a PAF spokesperson laid bare thegravity of the accusations, asserting that Saeed’s court-martial stemmeddirectly from his unauthorized sharing of classified intelligence with hisbrother, Hammad Saeed, residing in the United States. “The former AirMarshal routinely shared sensitive information with his brother inAmerica,” the spokesperson revealed, painting a picture of betrayal thatstrikes at the heart of military discipline. The disclosures allegedlyextended to operational specifics at the Mianwali Air Base, a critical hubfor Pakistan’s fighter jet fleet. “He even provided details on whichwarplanes were stationed at Mianwali,” the official added, emphasizing thepotential risks to PAF assets amid regional tensions.
These revelations have thrust the case into the national spotlight,challenging the narrative of an honorable officer wronged by internalpolitics. Shazia Javed, undeterred by the military’s stance, counters witha scathing indictment of her own. Speaking exclusively to the BBC, shealleged that the proceedings were a punitive response to a white paperpenned by her husband, which purportedly exposed Air Chief Marshal ZaheerAhmad Babar Sidhu’s overreach of authority and instances of corruption.”This is retaliation for daring to question the air chief’s excesses,” shedeclared, framing the court-martial as a smear campaign to silence dissent.
Echoing her claims, Hammad Saeed dismissed the espionage charges as”ludicrous and shameful,” accusing the PAF of fabricating a diversionarytactic. “They are tarnishing a national hero and decorated Air Marshal todeflect from the white paper highlighting Air Chief Babar Sidhu’scorruption and abuse of power,” he told the BBC, insisting that no suchleaks ever occurred. The document in question, described as a damningexposé, has not surfaced in any court filings or submissions to theMinistry of Defence, adding layers of intrigue to the unfolding drama. TheBBC could not independently verify its existence, though the PAFspokesperson categorically denied any linkage between the white paper andthe court-martial, insisting the focus remained solely on the securitybreaches.
As the Lahore High Court’s deadline for the federal government to addresspending matters lapsed without resolution, the impasse deepens. Shazia’slegal maneuvers highlight systemic opacity in military tribunals, wherecivilians are often barred from probing decisions affecting their kin.Critics argue this opacity fosters impunity, eroding public trust ininstitutions tasked with safeguarding the nation. Supporters of the PAF,however, view the leaks as an unforgivable lapse, demanding swiftaccountability to deter future indiscretions. The controversy ripplesbeyond personal fates, probing deeper questions about loyalty in Pakistan’sdefense apparatus. Will the courts pierce the veil of secrecy, or willmilitary prerogative prevail? As Saeed serves his term, the echoes of thisclash reverberate, a stark reminder of the fragile line between duty anddissent in the corridors of power.
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Source: www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-12345678″>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-12345678
Brothersharing classified details with US brother ignite legal firestorm overcorruption claims against air chief in Pakistan.
