Contrary to the general perception that the army avoids the accountability of its rank and file involved in corruption, the cases of two senior officers are worth citing.
Admiral Mansoorul Haq, ex-Chief of Naval Staff, was apprehended in 2001 on the request of the Musharraf regime by the US government on charges of receiving commission as CNS in the Agosta Class submarines deals and then extradited and tried in a military court. In January2002 in Attock, NAB had accepted an unprecedented offer (plea bargain) from Mansoorul Haq to pay about Rs 475.70 million ($7.50 m) in exchange for his freedom and closure of all corruption cases.
The second was that of Maj Gen Shujaat Bokhari, ex-Chairman Pakistan Steel Mills Ltd. who met a similar fate. The Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association in recent meeting called for punitive action against anyone irrespective of rank or status on charges of corruption or for providing support to terrorism, even if they are from the military.
Abid Salam
pk.shafaqna.com
