Gen Faiz, Imran were in contact via ‘numerous links’, claim sources

ISLAMABAD: Former DG ISI Lt-Gen (R) Faiz Hameed, presently in custody of military authorities, has been in contact with PTI founder chairman Imran Khan, claim sources.

These sources said that the two were in contact via “numerous links” even after May 9 and following the arrest of Imran Khan.

These sources referred to “jail network”, certain politicians and others as among the numerous contact links between Imran Khan and former DG ISI.

When asked if the latest arrest of Adiala jail’s former deputy superintendent Muhammad Akram is also in connection with the same “numerous links” between Imran Khan and Gen Faiz, the source said, “Yes”.

According to media reports, Akram was arrested on charges of facilitating incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. He was removed from his post on June 20, while Deputy Superintendent Judicial Tahir Siddique Shah replaced him as security supervisor of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Gen Faiz was warned more than once about his post-retirement objectionable activities by the military authorities but he did not stop, said the sources. More than one well-placed source told this correspondent about Gen Faiz’s contact, direct or indirect, with Imran Khan.

Imran Khan, however, distanced himself from Gen Faiz’s arrest by the military authorities. His legal team that met him in Adiala jail on Tuesday reported that their jailed leader had said that the arrest of Lt General (R) Faiz Hameed was an internal matter of the army and that his party had nothing to do with it.

Senior lawyer Intizar Panjutha, speaking to journalists after a meeting at the Rawalpindi jail, had quoted Imran Khan as saying that the arrest of Lt General (R) Faiz was purely an internal army issue and the PTI had no connection to it. “It is clear that Imran Khan had no political connection with General Faiz. It was General Bajwa who made a deal with Nawaz Sharif and replaced General Faiz,” the lawyer quoted Khan as saying.

Intizar Panjutha further explained that Imran Khan had suggested if General Faiz’s arrest was related to the events of May 9 and he had any role in them, it would be a good opportunity to form a judicial commission and bring forward the CCTV footage from that day.