The family of Hasan Askree, an army veteran and civilian, made an urgent plea military and judicial authorities on Tuesday, asking for justice in his case.
Hasan was court-martialed after writing a scathing letter to former army chief retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, expressing his concern over the potential impact of the armed forces’ decisions on Pakistan’s economic and political situation.
In a press conference, the family alleged that Hasan was unjustly tried in a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) without being informed of the charges. They also claimed he had been incarcerated alongside hardened criminals and terrorists in a maximum-security prison, despite a court order to transfer him to Adiala jail.
Hasan Askree was arrested in October 2020 and sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment following the FGCM trial. However, neither he nor his family has received a copy of the charges or verdict, even after multiple requests. His father, retired Maj-Gen Syed Zaffar Mehdi Askree, has been seeking a meeting with military authorities for over two years, but has received no response.
Hasan’s family contends that court-martialing a civilian for supposedly attempting to seduce military officials constitutes a grave miscarriage of justice, making a mockery of the offense of mutiny and insubordination. They further explained that the letter merely expressed concerns of a patriotic citizen without any links to organizations, political parties, or incitement of violence or anti-state sentiments.
Despite all this, Hasan was transferred to military custody without being given a chance to defend himself and kept in solitary confinement for months without charges or access to a lawyer. He was only granted permission to contact his family after being charged.
Hasan’s sister, Zehra, emphasized the difficulties faced by her elderly and sick parents in visiting him in Sahiwal under the strict visiting policy. She also mentioned an order from the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench, dated June 14, 2022, which directed the transfer of Hasan from the High-Security Prison in Sahiwal to Central Jail, Adiala, Rawalpindi within a fortnight. However, she stated there had been no compliance even after nine months.
Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s public relations arm, has not responded to requests for comment.
