SIALKOT:
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday directly linked former ISI chief Faiz Hameed to Nawaz Sharif’s removal from office in 2017, accusing the ex-spymaster of masterminding a long-running political project that resulted in Imran Khan’s rise to power and inflicted “significant damage” on the country.
Sharpening his tone days after this rare conviction, the minister said those who bet with the future of the country’s power had lost the right to be called Pakistanis, “whether they wear a uniform like Faiz or a Peshawari vest and sandals like Imran”.
He warned that further legal action against Hameed was imminent.
Addressing a press conference in Sialkot, Asif also spoke about the ruling party’s long series of protests and lamentations, alleging that Nawaz Sharif’s removal was the product of a carefully crafted conspiracy to pave the way for PTI founder Imran Khan to come to power.
“The removal of Nawaz, the cases against him, the allegations and Imran’s coming to power, this whole project was implemented under the supervision of Faiz Hameed,” he said, adding that Hameed and his “partner” Imran Khan were jointly responsible for destabilizing the country.
Referring to the 2018 general elections, he said Hameed was “in charge of the Imran project” and asserted that “Faiz was the most important part of this government”.
“A former ISI chief has been convicted after a 15-month trial. There are other charges for which legal proceedings will soon be initiated.”
According to the minister, the former spymaster played a pivotal role in the repression of political opponents during the PTI’s tenure. “He used to threaten and imprison political opponents,” Asif said.
He further argued that Imran’s political “vision” was executed through Hameed, who was Imran’s main beneficiary. He called it a “shameful” chapter in Pakistan’s history.
Asif claimed that “bringing Imran to power, filing charges against Nawaz, exiling him, imprisoning his family, party leaders and workers” were all done under Hameed’s leadership.
He claimed that the former ISI chief “had the opportunity to rule Pakistan through Imran” and that Parliament itself had been sidelined. “Earlier, decisions regarding the future of the country were taken in the backyard of the Prime Minister’s house,” he said, adding that legislation was dictated to lawmakers at that time.
He said the project began to collapse after Hameed’s transfer, although he continued to facilitate Imran while serving as corps commander. Asif further accused Hameed of being involved in the violent unrest on May 9, 2023.
“It was his planning; people within the institution also played a role, but the staff consisted of PTI workers,” he said. “It was a joint venture of General Faiz,” he added, before briefly correcting himself: “I keep saying general because it’s only been four days since his title was revoked.”
The defense minister said those now seeking to revive Imran’s political fortunes were operating on the foundations laid by Hameed. “The conspirators today who are trying to support Imran and bring him back to power, all these seeds were sown by Faiz.”
“These two personalities cannot be separated.”
Denouncing the May 9 violence as an attack on the sanctity of the armed forces, Asif likened it to national pride following the Bunyan ul Marsoos military operation against India in May, which earned Pakistan international recognition. “Now imagine, if Faiz and Imran’s plans had succeeded, where would we be today?” he asked.
“God forbid, if the Faiz-Imran nexus still existed, perhaps a war would not have been necessary at all since they would have ensured the destruction of the country from within.”
The defense minister pledged to continue the process of accountability, saying Pakistan’s enemies would be held accountable.
“Those who put the future of the country at stake for power cannot be considered Pakistanis. Whether they are in uniform like Faiz or in Peshawari vest and sandals like Imran,” he said.
