In connection with Gen Faiz’s court martial: Military says three more retired officers in custody

RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE: With the start of Field General Court Martial (FGCM) proceedings against former director general of Inter-Services Intelligence Lt-General (retd) Faiz Hameed, three more retired army officers have been taken into custody by the military.

“In connection with the FGCM proceedings of Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, three retired officers are also in military custody for their actions prejudicial to military discipline,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday. “Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of, and in collusion with, vested political interests, are continuing,” it said.

According to a Geo News report, two of the officers in the military custody are of brigadier rank, and one is of colonel rank. The two retired brigadiers have been identified as Ghaffar and Naeem, while the retired colonel’s name is Asim, sources said, adding that they worked as messengers between a political party and the ex-spymaster. The two brigadiers, accused of facilitation, hail from Chakwal, the sources added. They said so far eight people have been taken into custody, including the retired officers, in connection with the proceedings against Lt-Gen Faiz.

Separately, addressing the media on Thursday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar hinted at more arrests after three retired servicemen were taken into custody. “No one can be allowed to put the country’s security at stake,” he warned.

He said Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz’s actions were guided by the PTI founder’s “wish” and the former prime minister was “leading them all” from jail. He said Faiz Hameed’s arrest brought to light more evidence and more facts. “All of it was being done at the behest of PTI founder. All of them damaged the country by conniving with the anarchic group,” he said, adding that accountability was needed for their actions. Tarar said that more arrests would follow as the investigations advance and more names are revealed. There is no pardon for harming the country, he added.

He said self-accountability on the part of an institution was welcomed. The process of self-accountability should be adopted by every institution, the minister said and added that a political party and its leader attacked the country’s integrity. The country was being destabilised due to the attitude of PTI’s founder chairman, said the minister, adding that no one could be allowed to disturb the law & order situation.

The May 9 attack or the letter to the IMF was aimed at destabilising the country, the information minister said and maintained that those who harmed the country would face the law. Tarar said the government was making all efforts to keep the country safe from chaos and to ensure peace and stability. Under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, efforts were being made for economic and political stability, the minister added.