By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistani authorities have arrested 57 air force officials on charges of having links with terrorists, media reports said Wednesday.
The personnel were arrested from various Pakistani cities, including Lahore, capital of Punjab province and southern port city of Karachi, among others, for having links with terrorists.
Geo TV said actions against some of the officials began during the regime of former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf.
Twenty-six of the arrested personnel were awarded prison terms ranging from three-and-half years to 17 years, while six others were awarded capital punishment. The report however did not mention the fate of the remaining arrested personnel.
Officials said photographs of a senior air force official, wanted by the authorities, have been put up at air force bases for information leading to his capture.
According to reports, several air force personnel were linked to a conspiracy to assassinate Musharraf who survived two attempts on his life in December 2003.