The counsel of the family of a retired army general, whose civilian son was court-martialed in 2021 and was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment over his letters critical of the military written to the then army chief and other top generals, has reiterated that a sham Field General Court Martial (FGCM) trial was conducted against the civilian while adding these trials do not generally convene in peace times.

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir, who is the family’s lawyer, shared the details of the case with Dissent Today.

Hassan Askari, the civilian son of a retired general, was court-martialed in 2020 over his letters critical of the military written to then-COAS Bajwa. His family recently came forward with allegations of a sham trial.

The family’s lawyer @ImaanZHazir shares details of the case: pic.twitter.com/ymb334rl22

— Dissent Today (@DissentToday) April 7, 2023

She said Hassan Askari was picked up from his house in Islamabad on October 2, 2020, and on the same day, a request was made to the magistrate to transfer him to military custody.

The lawyer claimed the family only got to know that Hassan Askari was in military custody after they filed a writ petition in Islamabad High Court since Askari’s whereabouts remained unknown for weeks after he was picked up from the house. The family was also informed then that Askari was being tried in Field General Court Martial (FGCM), which, she added, is the highest level court martial and is normally not convened during peacetime.

Following this, a sham trial was conducted against Askari and he was sentenced to 5-year rigorous imprisonment, she said.

Imaan Mazari claimed that neither Hassan Askari nor his family received a copy of that order to this day. He was then shifted to a high-security Sahiwal prison.

However, the family filed a writ petition in Lahore High Court- Rawalpindi bench, requesting Askari’s transfer from the high-security prison to Rawalpindi Adiala Jail so that his elderly parents can visit him in prison. The LHC had ordered Askari’s transfer. The order was never implemented.

The lawyer said the family filed a contempt petition against the non-compliance of the court’s orders, however, it has been nine months but the court is yet to take up the plea.