By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani authorities on Monday arrested a renowned defense analyst and former military general retired Lieutenant General Amjad Shoaib on the day when the nation celebrated its Air Force victory against India.

General (R) Shoaib arrest brought strong criticism against the government across the country as the retired general was widely respected among the young generation because of his straightforward views. 

According to local media, the Islamabad administration has registered a case against the former General on charges of inciting the public against the state institutions. 

The current regime targets critical journalists and analysts who are raising their voices against the ongoing human rights violations and price hikes in the country. 

 Gen. R Shoaib in a TV show while responding to a question of an anchor regarding the next strategy of former Prime Minister and popular opposition leader Imran Khan, said that he could ask the public to boycott from government offices. 

His response prompted the local authorities to register under section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Pakistani opposition leaders and journalists strongly condemned the arrest of General R Shoaib and urged the government to immediately release him. 

“Condemnable arrest of Lt Gen retd Amjad Shoaib shows democracy & freedom being totally destroyed in Pak to save regime change conspiracy's fascist order of cabal of crooks propped by handlers. It is time for every Pakistani to stand up for Haqeeqi Azadi & save Pak from the abyss,” former premier Imran Khan tweeted.

“A child who along with his mother came to Pakistan from Amritsar in the 1947 migration, after his father was kidnapped. He slept at the railway station for several days. Served Pakistan for 80 years. Now the same General Amjad Shoaib has been arrested by an "extremely patriotic" magistrate in a case of rebellion. The state had to be like a mother?,” former Law Minister Babar Awan said.

The journalist community also condemned the arrest of General R Shoaib and called it a violation of fundamental rights in the country. 

“Sad to hear the arrest of veteran retd. Lt. General Amjad Shoaib for expressing his views on tv. It is the violation of the basic fundamental rights of a citizen whether he is a civilian or an ex-service man,” Mazhar Abbas said.

While another senior journalist Ayaz Amir posted his and General Amajd Shoab photos and wrote “If we are traitors, then who are the patriots.”

General retired Shoaib is also president of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS).