Jawad Saeed (SI, TI (M)) is a retired Pakistan Air Force officer who attained the rank of air marshal. Commissioned in 1986, he held several high-level commands, including the Northern Air Command, before retiring in 2021. In 2024, Saeed was arrested and subjected to a court-martial for allegedly leaking sensitive military information to his brother in the United States, resulting in a 14-year prison sentence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.[1]
Saeed's conviction drew legal challenges from his family, who petitioned the Islamabad High Court and Lahore High Court for details of the proceedings, citing procedural irregularities.[1]
Career
Saeed was commissioned in the General Duties (Pilot) branch of the Pakistan Air Force on 1 November 1986.[2][3] During his early service, he commanded a fighter squadron and later a fighter wing.[2] Saeed also served as an operational air base commander and held staff appointments, including director of operations and personal staff officer to the then Chief of the Air Staff.[2]
Saeed was promoted to air vice-marshal and commanded an operational air base as well as a regional air command.[2] In 2018, he was elevated to the rank of air marshal alongside Air Marshals Syed Noman Ali and Zaheer Ahmad Babar.[3] Following his promotion, Saeed assumed command of the Northern Air Command.[2]
He later served as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Administration) in 2020–2021, positioning him as a potential successor to Air Chief MarshalMujahid Anwar Khan in 2021.[4] Saeed retired upon reaching the age of superannuation on 18 March 2021.[5]
Court-martial and conviction
On 21 January 2024, Saeed was arrested at his residence in Islamabad on charges of leaking sensitive information.[6] The Pakistan Air Force initiated a Field General Court Martial under the Pakistan Air Force Act, 1953, charging him with sedition, espionage, and violations of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.[7][8]
The charges centred on allegations that Saeed shared classified details, including fighter jet deployments at Mianwali Airbase, with his brother residing in the United States.[9][10] A PAF spokesperson described the information as "extremely sensitive" and confirmed the sharing occurred post-retirement.[9]
The trial concluded swiftly, with the charge sheet served on 21 February 2024 and proceedings completed within two days.[7] On 29 April 2024, a military court sentenced Saeed to 14 years' imprisonment.[11][12] He was detained in a PAF officers' mess designated as a "sub-jail" due to the case's sensitivity, rather than a civilian prison.[9]
Saeed's wife, Shazia Jawad, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Islamabad High Court in March 2024, alleging unlawful detention and seeking his recovery.[13] The court dismissed the petition after PAF confirmed his custody but allowed a separate challenge to the court-martial.[7] Shazia later approached the Lahore High Court, claiming procedural flaws, including denial of counsel of choice and lack of family notification.[9][11] PAF refused to disclose records, citing national security under the Pakistan Air Force Act.[11]
The family alleged the arrest stemmed from a white paper Saeed authored exposing corruption among senior PAF officials, including the Air Chief, rather than the information leak.[14] PAF denied this, stating the court-martial was solely for the leak and unrelated to any administrative role in Operation Swift Retort in 2019.[14] Following his conviction, Saeed's pension was discontinued, though family medical benefits were partially restored.[6]
As of November 2025, Saeed remains in custody, with ongoing legal efforts by his family to access proceedings details.[9]
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Pakistan 
