Unfairly treated armed forces officers will get justice: Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday pledged justice for members of the army, navy, and air force who were unfairly treated under the previous administration, alongside other deprived government officials and employees.

He made the remarks after receiving a report from the committee formed to review appeals of retired and dismissed officers of the armed forces who faced discrimination, deprivation, injustice, and retaliation between 2009 and August 4, 2024, according to a statement from the chief adviser's press wing.

"When I assigned you this responsibility, I thought perhaps a few irregularities had taken place, but the complete picture you have presented is truly frightening. It is far beyond imagination," Yunus said, thanking the committee for its professionalism and impartiality.

Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Hafiz, the committee chairman and special assistant to the chief adviser on defence and national unity development, and members Maj Gen (retd) Muhammad Shams-ul-Huda, Maj Gen (retd) Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, rear admiral (retd) Mohammad Shafiul Azam, and air-vice marshal (retd) Muhammad Shafqat Ali, handed the report to the chief adviser.

The committee received 733 applications and recommended 145 after scrutiny.

Abdul Hafiz said the committee held its first meeting on August 19, 2025, and invited applications by September 21, 2025, through multiple channels, including the Central Officers Record Office, Inter Services Public Relations, RAOWA, media, and WhatsApp.

He noted that service boards found no record of moral misconduct or disciplinary punishment in the dossiers of those recommended, except in a few cases. Recommendations were based on board findings, additional information, and interviews with applicants.

The inquiry found that six officers were subjected to enforced disappearances for periods ranging from one to eight years due to relatives' political affiliations or alleged militancy.

One retired officer was killed after being framed in a fabricated militancy case, while his wife was detained without trial twice for six years, along with their one-year-old child.

Officers critical of government inaction during February 25, 2009, BDR carnage were tortured after being implicated in the Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh murder attempt case, which the commission termed "fabricated".

The inquiry also found that five DGFI officers from the 1/11 caretaker government were dismissed on false allegations or without charges.

Quoting the report, the CA's press wing said officers assigned to question the prime minister at a darbar after the BDR massacre were dismissed without defence when the session turned chaotic.

It added that four junior lieutenants were dismissed as alleged militants or political followers simply for practising religious rituals regularly.

According to the report, 114 army officers were recommended for normal retirement, promotion, pre-retirement promotion, arrears, and other allowances, with four recommended for reinstatement. Nineteen navy and 12 air force officers were recommended for similar benefits.