Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Saturday that additional legal proceedings will be initiated against former ISI chief Faiz Hameed.
Speaking at a press conference in Sialkot, the minister stated that the ex-spymaster was responsible for removing Nawaz Sharif from power and facilitating the rise of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Khawaja Asif noted that Faiz Hameed had already undergone 15 months of legal proceedings and faced corresponding punishment, while emphasizing that further charges against him are still pending.
The defence minister stated that recent developments were unprecedented, noting that state institutions had acted transparently by taking action against a former intelligence chief. He alleged that the political project to install the PTI founder was initiated 10 to 12 years ago and was executed under the leadership of Faiz Hameed.
Khawaja Asif accused Faiz Hameed and the PTI founder of conspiring against the country, claiming that political opponents were jailed, threatened, and silenced on Faiz Hameed’s directives. He said the four-year tenure of the PTI government was strengthened by Faiz Hameed’s backing, adding that decisions about the country’s future were allegedly made outside constitutional forums.
He further alleged that the former intelligence chief was also involved in the Top City case and played a role in the imprisonment and exile of Nawaz Sharif. According to Khawaja Asif, the main beneficiaries of these actions were Faiz Hameed himself and the PTI leadership.
Referring to the events of May 9, Khawaja Asif claimed that the planning behind the unrest came from within, alleging that Faiz Hameed masterminded the strategy while PTI workers were used as the main force. He warned that the seeds of instability sown during that period were still affecting the political environment.
Khawaja Asif also praised the current military leadership under Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying Pakistan had gained unprecedented respect globally under his command. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the armed forces with steering the country out of difficult circumstances.
The defence minister further accused PTI leadership of maintaining links with militant groups, claiming that such policies had endangered national security.
Source: Dunya News
