In response to the arrest of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid by the military, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has emphasized that if any wrongdoing has occurred, the retired general should be put on trial. The previous day, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that Hamid had been detained over allegations of land grabbing and seizing valuables from the owner of a private housing society, following Supreme Court orders.
According to the ISPR, a comprehensive court of inquiry was conducted by the Pakistan Army to verify the validity of the complaints against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid in the Top City Case.
In an interview with Geo News on Tuesday, Gandapur noted that Faiz’s arrest is a matter of the army’s internal affairs, and his party has chosen not to comment on it. However, he stressed the importance of a “transparent trial” for all individuals involved.
Gandapur also mentioned reports suggesting that the former ISI chief may have mistreated someone while still in his official position. Independent Senator Faisal Vawda and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah have linked Hamid’s arrest with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the events of May 9. Vawda indicated that the former general’s arrest could have implications for the PTI leaders in the near future.
The May 9 incidents refer to the violent protests that erupted nationwide following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court last year on corruption charges. These protests saw attacks on government buildings and military sites, including Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ) and the Lahore Corps Commander’s House. The PTI has distanced itself from the violence, with Imran Khan recently expressing a willingness to apologize if PTI members were found involved in the riots.
Gandapur also urged the court to summon him to testify about the pressures he faced in custody before the May 9 unrest. He claimed that the violence following Khan’s arrest was premeditated and that he could provide crucial insights into the events and actions taken prior to May 9.
