\u2018Probe continues against retired officers, accomplices for fomenting instability in collusion with vested interests\u2019
\nISLAMABAD
\nIn connection with the ongoing court martial proceedings of former spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, three more retired officers were taken into custody for their actions \u201cprejudicial to military discipline,\u201d the military\u2019s media wing disclosed on Thursday. \u201cFurther investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing,\u201d the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement added, hinting at more arrests.
\nThe military\u2019s media wing did not provide the names and ranks of the detained officers; however, certain reports claimed that two were retired brigadiers and one colonel. All of them were considered close confidants of former Director General of ISI, General Faiz, according to sources.
\nThe news of more arrests came a day after Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir invited retired army officers including some former chiefs to take them into confidence about the recent actions. While former army chiefs including General (retd) Ashfaq Pervaz Kayani and General (retd) Raheel Sharif were present at the event hosted by the incumbent army chief, certain other names including General Munir\u2019s immediate predecessor General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was conspicuous by his absence.
\nSome reports indicated General Bajwa was not in the country to dispel the impression that his absence had anything to do with the ongoing investigations against Gen Faiz.
\nThe latest arrest came just days after in an unprecedented move, the country\u2019s former spymaster was detained by military authorities and court martial proceedings were initiated against him on charges of corruption, misuse of authority and violating the Pakistan Army Act.
\n\u201cComplying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd). Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt General Faiz Hameed (retd), under provisions of Pakistan Army Act,\u201d read a statement issued by the military\u2019s media wing on Monday.
\n\u201cIn addition, multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post retirement have also been established. The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd) has been taken into military custody,\u201d the statement added.
\nGiven the powerful position of head of ISI, it is seen as unusual that the former spymaster was not only arrested but court martial proceedings have been initiated against him.
\nThe charges against Gen Faiz date back to May 2017 when he was DG-C in the ISI.
\nIn April, the army constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by a major general to look into the allegations against Gen Faiz.
\nThe inquiry was ordered in pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court and in the light of the directives of the Ministry of Defence.
\nThis was the first formal inquiry ordered against Gen Faiz, who resigned in November 2022 four months before his retirement date. Gen Faiz served as DG C in the ISI and later headed the spy agency. His name surfaced in many controversies including the Faizabad Dharna case. Three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif named him and Gen Bajwa as main characters behind his removal through a Supreme Court decision.
\nCharges against Faiz
\nOn November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Gen Faiz of misusing his authority.
\nThe petition filed by Moeez in the Supreme Court stated that on May 12, 2017, on the behest of General Faiz Hameed, ISI officials raided the top city office and his house. During the raid, valuables, including gold, diamonds and money, were seized from the house by ISI officials, the petitioner alleged.
\nThe petition also stated that Gen Faiz later personally met him to resolve the issue, in which he assured that some of the items which had been taken away by the ISI officials during the raid would be returned. However, 400 tolas of gold and cash will not be returned to him.
\nThe fact that court martial proceedings have already begun against Gen Faiz means that there is enough evidence against the former spy chief.
\nThere are reports that Gen Faiz\u2019s activities post retirement may implicate former prime minister Imran Khan in more cases.
\nThe jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader on Thursday distanced himself from the ongoing court martial proceedings his Gen Faiz.
\nHowever, Khan said the former ISI chief was an \u201casset\u201d who was wasted.
\nIn an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail on Thursday, he mentioned that the military is investigating General Faiz. \u201cIt\u2019s their internal matter, what do I have to do with it?\u201d
\nHe further added that if General Faiz Hameed was being held accountable, then everyone should be held accountable.
\nHe also claimed that the former army chief removed General Faiz at the request of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.
\nImran Khan stated that there was a heated exchange between him and General Bajwa over the removal of General Faiz Hameed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Probe continues against retired officers, accomplices for fomenting instability in collusion with vested interests\u2019 ISLAMABAD In connection with the ongoing court martial proceedings of former spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, three more retired officers were taken into custody for their actions \u201cprejudicial to military discipline,\u201d the military\u2019s media wing disclosed on Thursday. \u201cFurther investigations of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":281946,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-425025","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n