Imran knew ‘something big’ would happen before Arshad was killed, claims Vawda

KARACHI: Former federal minister and senator Faisal Vawda has claimed that PTI founder Imran Khan was aware ‘something big’ was going to happen before journalist Arshad Sharif’ was killed while clarifying that the former prime minister did not know that Arshad Sharif would be killed. He has also alleged that Murad Saeed and former ISI DG Gen (r) Faiz Hameed were involved in the journalist’s killing.

Vawda made these assertions to journalist Hamid Mir during an appearance on Geo News’ programme Capital Talk on Monday night.Specifically, Vawda said that Imran had known thatsomething significant was about to happen before Arshad Sharif’s murder (though not about the murder itself), alleging that both Faiz and Murad Saeed were aware of plans and that in fact Murad Saeed knew even in August that someone had been hired abroad for the murder.

Vawda referenced an audio clip -- which was then aired on Capital Talk -- in which Imran Khan can allegedly be heard talking about protests and a long march, saying he would make an announcement on Sunday or on October 30. Vawda reminded the show that Arshad Sharif was murdered on October 23, 2022.

Claiming that the audio clip was of Imran speaking at Banigala, Vawda also said that it could be checked out forensically and that he was certain of its veracity. According to the former minister, he had also told Imran about a shooting attempt on the former prime minister. Vawda said he had told Imran that in the chaos that ensued martial law would be declared, elaborating that Faiz Hameed would have gained from all that. Vawda further stated that Imran Khan had also tried to protect both Murad Saeed and Faiz Hameed after Arshad Sharif’s killing.

Vawda also claimed that he had been in touch with the late Arshad Sharif, alleging that Faiz Hameed had apparently as ISI DG appointed someone named Arsalan Satti to facilitate Arshad Sharif’s leaving Dubai. He also implicated two women in the said operation but did not name them.

Saying that a lot more has yet to come to the fore, Vawda said that it remains to be revealed who benefitted from it all, who all got sacrificed while also cautioning that Imran and Faiz’s destinies are stuck at Murad Saeed whose arrest will be very consequential for these two men.

The former minister also said that -- in his opinion -- whether he becomes a state witness or not, former general Faiz Hameed would not only be court-martialed but also “be sentenced and punished”.

Vawda also said that it was due to Faiz Hameed that he was disqualified twice, and that the tales of corruption related to the former intelligence chief would be legendary if they come out.

Earlier in the programme, Vawda stated that after Ali Amin Gandapur’s speech during Sunday’s PTI rally in Islamabad, the PTI no longer has a way to avoid responsibility. “They orchestrated the May 9 events -- it’s their mindset”, Vawda claimed, adding that Gandapur now bears responsibility for the PTI founder’s life. He further alleged that PTI leader Gandapur had been communicating with Faiz Hameed, with widespread knowledge of their corruption.

The former minister also suggested that the Election Commission of Pakistan has grounds to disqualify certain PTI members due to discrepancies in their assets. He said that with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s return to democratic politics, PTI leaders are politically isolated.