- "He [Faiz] never refrains from muddling the waters," says Asif.
- Minister says ex-spymaster might not be "alone" in May 9 riots.
- Close family ties made Faiz and Bajwa's "bond impregnable": Asif
After the military arrested former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the ex-spymaster was involved in the political events following his retirement from the military in November 2022.
Speaking on Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath', the defence minister said on Monday: "Post his [Faiz] retirement, the events that unraveled on the political scene, Gen sahab definitely had a hand in it."
"Knowing him a little bit, he never refrains from muddling the waters. Especially [in Faiz's case] a person who has exercised unlimited power and he has to take the back seat," he added.
Responding to a question regarding the former ISI director general's (DG) purported involvement in the May 9 events, Asif said that if the reports are true then Lt Gen (retd) Faiz is not alone in this as he "would have been providing some logistics, using his experience to define the targets to cause bigger damage".
"We can say he [Faiz] had a role of strategic adviser in the May 9 events. I can't say that with certainty but the events and circumstances are pointing towards him," he added.
Asif said Lt Gen (retd) Faiz and former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had very deep personal ties as their fathers-in-law were extremely close.
"This made their bond impregnable," the minister asserted.
In a major development earlier today, the ex-ISI chief was taken into custody by the army over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the owner of a private housing society, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Consequently, the military's media wing said appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against the former spymaster under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.
It added that multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established against the former general, who also served as Peshawar corps commander.
"The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid has been taken into military custody," the ISPR said in the communique.
The arrest was made in connection with a petition filed by a housing society's chief executive officer (CEO) in the Supreme Court last year, wherein the former ISI director general (DG) was accused of misusing his authority and violating the Army Act.
