Vawda, Talal see Imran in hot water after ex-spy chief’s indictment

ISLAMABAD: Senators Faisal Vawda and Talal Chaudhry have linked the indictment of former spymaster Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the May 9 riots that erupted last year following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Speaking to Geo News, Senator Vawda reiterated that PTI’s call for civil disobedience on December 14 was aimed at influencing Hameed’s trial.

The senator said that it was highly likely that trials of Hameed’s facilitators and supporters would begin soon. He claimed that Hameed, Imran Khan and former first lady Bushra Bibi were all tied to the violent protests on May 9, 2023. “It wouldn’t surprise me if the PTI founder is taken into military custody,” Vawda said.

Explaining, he said that PTI’s top leadership, including Imran, Bushra Bibi, Ali Amin Gandapur, and absconding leaders like Murad Saeed, Hammad Azhar and others, could be tried in military courts once evidence of Hameed’s involvement was presented.

Vawda, a former federal minister in the PTI government, asserted that the issue would not end with Hameed’s court-martial and that exemplary punishments would be meted out to all those who acted against national interests.

Referring to the May 9 riots, during which attacks on government and military installations occurred, Vawda urged all parties to distance themselves from militancy and called for dialogue to ensure political stability in the country.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Senator Talal Chaudhry commented on the developments. He said: “This charge sheet is not just for Hameed, but for the PTI as well.” Chaudhry argued that the May 9 riots were an attempt to incite mutiny in the armed forces under the guise of protests and that the PTI had called for civil disobedience to “sabotage the trial”. “This charge sheet revolves around the nexus between Hameed and the PTI founder.”

The PMLN senator also described PTI’s 2022 long march as “part of a conspiracy” to prevent the appointment of the army chief. He claimed that the situation was nearing a conclusive end, as “the PTI is no longer receiving support within the institutions”.

Chaudhry said that the events leading up to the February 8 general elections, PTI’s November 26 protest in Islamabad and the civil disobedience call were all attempts to manipulate Hameed’s trial.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Mustafa Kamal called Hameed’s indictment a “significant development” in the country’s history, predicting that it would set new political protocols for the next 40 years. Kamal said that Hameed was not an ordinary individual, as he had wielded “absolute powers” as DG ISI during his tenure. However, Kamal said this would serve as a lesson for those who believe their powers will never end.

The MQM-P lawmaker also termed Hameed’s indictment an “extraordinary” move as such actions had never been taken against individuals holding that position. He said that the decision would be based on solid evidence and would leave a profound impact on the future course of politics in the country.