Former Major General’s son jailed for five years for writing a criticism letter to General Bajwa, Reports BBC Urdu

[Xestan]

The story is not as simple as reported, but it looks like BBC has reported facts (except for the excerpts of the letter itself).

The guy is a civilian, and not a soldier as some members have pointed out. There's a section in the Army act, which was brought in by Ayub, that allows civilians to be prosecuted by the Military court. You just need an FIR and then order of a Magistrate and boom, your custody is given to the Army.

About this particular case, he wrote letters to high ranking serving officers criticizing Bajwa's policies, which the Army has considered an act of inciting mutiny, which is basically punishable by death or life sentence. Now he's been given 5 years, that means, either the offense was not that serious or it's just a threat used to silence the civilian.

I think the judgement has already been challenged in the IHC. Lets see if they can protect fundamental rights of a civilian.

 

[muhammadhafeezmalik]

Former Major General’s son jailed for five years for writing a criticism letter to General Bajwa, Reports BBC Urdu

The son of a retired Pakistani army major general has been sentenced to five years in prison for writing a letter of criticism to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa over his extension, reports BBC Urdu on Friday.
The BBC Urdu report says, according to military sources, a field general court-martial was held against accused Hassan Askari in the Gujranwala cantonment. During the operation, the accused was not allowed to have a lawyer of his choice and a military court provided him with a lawyer.
After being sentenced, Hassan Askari has been shifted to Sahiwal High-Security Jail. He was convicted by a military court in July this year and no statement was issued by the army’s public relations department, but details were recently released by Hassan Askari’s father.
A Lahore High Court (LHC) Pindi bench has moved a petition seeking a transfer of the convict from Sahiwal Jail to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
As being reported, the court has issued notices to all the parties concerned, including the Field General Court Martial, on the request. Hassan Askari was accused of writing a letter to General Qamar Javed Bajwa in September last year, allegedly extending his tenure and asking him to resign, expressing displeasure with the army’s policies.
Major General (retd) Zafar Mehdi Askari, the father of convict Hassan Askari, said in the petition that he had learned that his son was being tried in Gujranwala Cantonment where the Field General Court Martial convicted him and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
The field petition also claims that Hassan Askari’s family was kept in the dark for several weeks after he was convicted, while the petitioner’s daughter also contacted the General Headquarters several times but there was no response. Not received According to the petitioner, Brigadier Wasim, posted at Jag Branch, was also contacted and said that Hassan Askari has been kept in Sahiwal High-Security Jail and despite repeated contacts by the jail authorities, he was only allowed to visit Hassan once. He is allowed to meet Askari.
The petition also pointed out that Hassan Askari was not being allowed to meet his lawyer. The petition also mentions that he had written a letter to the Ministry of Human Rights in August stating that since Hassan Askari’s parents live in Islamabad, the culprit was sent to a nearby jail in Rawalpindi. He should be shifted to Adiala Jail as the parents of the accused are old while the mother of the accused is critically ill and undergoes dialysis three days a week.
Besides, the petitioner i.e. Major General (retd) Zafar Mehdi has said that a letter has been written to the head of the Punjab Prisons Department in this regard but no reply has been received from there. The petitioner contends that the Department of Prisons has the power to transfer any prisoner to any jail within the province.

Former Major General's son jailed for five years for writing a criticism letter to General Bajwa, Reports BBC Urdu

The son of a retired Pakistani army major general has been sentenced to five years in prison for writing a letter of criticism to Army Chief General Qamar

www.oyeyeah.com

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www.bbc.com

@Horus @waz @muhammadhafeezmalik @Jungibaaz @ghazi52 @Joe Shearer @El Sidd @Areesh @Zarvan @Windjammer @Pakistan Space Agency @Patriot forever @Dual Wielder @Imran Khan @koolio

Their company produces explosive material for ordinance factories and for mining. Mehdi Askari has good relations in civil and military bureaucracy, one of their Director is also on the board of Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Hassan Askari is a young engineer, US qualified, energetic and was helping his father and uncle in their business. Feels sorry for him. Earlier this year I also shared a story about this.

IHC moved for release of ex-army officer’s son from custody

A retired major general of Pakistan Army has moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC), seeking release of his son from custody of military authorities who put him behind bars after he wrote letters to the army chief and other senior officers against certain polices. After a preliminary hearing...

defence.pk

@Horus @waz @Jungibaaz @ghazi52 @Joe Shearer @El Sidd @Areesh @Zarvan @Windjammer @Pakistan Space Agency @Patriot forever @Dual Wielder @Imran Khan @koolio

 

[baqai]

seriously? is this for real? and imagine if a Ret senior military officer can't get his son out a normal civilian kia karay ga becahra

 

[Rank]

Spineless Bajwa can't do anything about Maryam and Criminal Nawaz who day-night making fun of Pak Army but just because of critic letter, someone sent to jail .... This Bajwa and Imran both literally ***** entire Army institution

 

[CriticalThought]

Well, it would be absolutely hilarious if someone wrote a letter to Bajwa, encouraging Bajwa to mutiny against Bajwa, to preserve the legacy of Bajwa, while making Bajwa an example for all those who even dream of following in the footsteps of Bajwa. Would this deserve a death penalty?

 

[alibaz]

can the Army Act even be applied to a civilian?

Yes, if either of the party falls under Army Act.

 

[alibaz]

He can’t be a civilian if he was court martial led, surely.
He himself must be a soldier.

If any civilian commits any offence against a military person, installation or even party with military person in committing any offence can be court martialed.

 

[StormBreaker]

“For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever (more than 3 years / extension), whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.” - Isaiah 57:15

 

[HRK]

It is true his own father has confirmed it, regarding the apprehension of his son, the FIR's etc.

I am not questioning the arrest and court martial but I am doubtful about the the reason quoted by BBC.

 

[Mentee]

“For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever (more than 3 years / extension), whose name is Holy,
“I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.” - Isaiah 57:15

All it takes is some nano seconds to end the Delusions of inevitability

Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised. (23:99-100)

 

[Vapnope]

I am not questioning the arrest and court martial but I am doubtful about the the reason quoted by BBC.

From the comments it seems that he incited other for mutiny hence such action was taken. I think ISPR should tweet about it before everyone considers BBCs headline a truth.

 

[Maarkhoor]

I am not questioning the arrest and court martial but I am doubtful about the the reason quoted by BBC.

He did not wrote one letter it was indeed a series of letters to many high rank officers, his acts directly fall under inciting mutiny in armed forces.

@PanzerKiel @Blacklight @Rashid Mahmood

 

[PanzerKiel]

his acts directly fall under inciting mutiny in armed forces.
@PanzerKiel @Blacklight @Rashid Mahmood

Not his act only..... He actually asked for exactly that in his letters.

 

[Moon]

Yes let me take BBC'S report at face value, as they've only ever spoken the truth, and never manipulated facts and figures, or their reporting to fit some malevolent agenda.

In fact, I'm sure this report was definitely not one one sided, and no facts were omitted , or deliberately ignored as BBC has the Pakistani nation's best interest best interest in it's mind.

 

[Jungibaaz]

I can't help but feel that stuff like this could be prevented or at least minimised if we didn't have extensions for the chief. Do your time, retire amicably, let the process go on. Anyone know this guy's motivations for his actions?