Gen Faiz vehemently denies charge of guiding PTI: sources

ISLAMABAD: Political contacts of former DGISI Faiz Hamid, who has been formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act, vehemently deny the charge of guiding the PTI in political or other matters.

Informed sources said that Gen Faiz’s contacts with politicians included some belonging to the PMLN and PPP. The News had reported while quoting sources that Gen Faiz was in contact with around 50 politicians, mostly belonging to the PTI.

The authorities, as claimed by the sources, have evidence of these contacts, which include some alleged guidance to the PTI. Certain aspects of these contacts are under probe.

However, according to the sources, Gen Faiz is of the view that these political contacts were routine social interactions. In some cases, this correspondent is told, these contacts were allegedly meant for some personal tasks like employment of someone and award of ticket to some person known to him.

On Tuesday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the former ISI chief has been formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act. The ISPR stated these violations have compromised state security and interests.

According to the ISPR, Gen Faiz has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of Official Secrets Act detrimental to safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority and government resources and causing wrongful loss to a person(s).

Although some federal ministers alleged that Gen Faiz and Imran Khan were involved in the May 9 riots, the ISPR clearly said that the former spymaster’s role in May 9 “in collusion with vested political interests” was also being investigated. Meanwhile sources had told this correspondent that the nature of Faiz-Imran links, direct or indirect, was also under investigation.

Involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (R), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, leading up to multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th May 2023 incident for fomenting instability, at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, is also being separately investigated, the ISPR statement had added.