Court martial ‘possible for officers following Faiz Hameed’s orders’

KARACHI: Former Caretaker Sindh Interior Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz stated that legal action will be pursued against officers who followed General Faiz Hameed’s illegal orders.

Nawaz indicated that those officers could face court martial depending on the severity of the charges.

In an interview, the former caretaker minister said that if charges were deemed less severe, disciplinary measures could be implemented during the investigation.

However, if deemed necessary, a court martial would be conducted. Meanwhile, being a senior officer, General Faiz Hameed will face a separate court martial.

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Nawaz said that the accused officers were entitled to a “fair trial” in the court martial process. They were allowed to present evidence in their defense, while the prosecution would outline its case. A board would then review the evidence and make formal recommendations.

He outlined that the Judge Advocate General branch at General Headquarters (GHQ), which comprises the army’s legal experts, will review the charge sheet. The army chief needs to approve the charge sheet before action can be taken.

The former caretaker minister also mentioned that if multiple charge sheets were involved, separate court martials would be required. He suggested that a single charge sheet with two sections might streamline the process.

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Addressing the Top City case, Nawaz criticised the delay in the inquiry, suggesting that timely action could have expedited the proceedings.