Gen Faiz was excessively involved in PTI politics, claim sources

ISLAMABAD: Former DG ISI Lt Gen (R) Faiz Hameed, after his retirement, was excessively involved in PTI politics, claim government sources.

Sources said he used to give different tips to the PTI leadership to make the party politically active. Gen Faiz and Imran Khan were in contact through different channels, including some jail staff members, they said.

Some of the jail staff members have already recorded their statements, confirming Faiz-Imran contact and their indirect interaction, sources said.

As against what is repeatedly said by ruling party leaders, including some ministers, there is no confirmation to this correspondent as yet about Faiz’s involvement in the May 9 attacks, or that he was involved in any attempt to cause mutiny in the army.

Gen Faiz has been found involved in political interactions with PTI, which during the last two years has been targeting the military and its top leadership, sources said. Under the Army Act, Gen Faiz, for being a former DGISI, was not allowed to get involved in political activities for five years after his retirement.

But in his case, he has been found violating this restriction, and giving political tips and interacting with the top leadership of a political party, which was seen as anti-army and has been involved in the May 9 attacks, sources said.

Within a few days of Gen Faiz’s arrest, The News had reported Faiz and Imran were in contact via “numerous links” even after May 9 and following the arrest of Imran Khan.

Gen Faiz was warned more than once over 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. However, Imran had distanced himself from Gen Faiz’s arrest by the military authorities.

Speaking about his relationship with ex-ISI chief, the former PM said he had never been in contact with Gen Faiz Hameed following his transfer from the ISI, claiming a general becomes “zero” after retirement. As against Imran Khan, PTI spokesman Rauf Hasan confirmed he has been interacting with Gen Faiz after the latter’s retirement. The PTI leader insisted his interaction with Faiz was purely social in nature and had nothing to do with politics. The government ministers and PMLN leaders, however, level all sorts of allegations against Gen Faiz and link him with the May 9 attacks.