In the latest U-turn of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, he demanded an ‘open trial’ of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. (retd.) Faiz Hamid, who is currently facing court martial proceedings under the Army Act for allegedly misusing his authority.
Previously, Khan had claimed Hamid’s detention by the military and subsequent initiation of court martial proceedings was an ‘internal’ matter of the Army. However, on Wednesday, he told journalists at Adiala Jail that an ‘open trial’ that broke from protocol would benefit the country and boost its prosperity.
“I demand an open trial of Faiz Hamid and media should be given access to cover it,” he said, despite having earlier welcomed the ‘internal accountability’ of the Army. Claiming Hamid’s case not solely an internal matter of the military, Khan asserted it posed risks to Pakistan’s global image. “I’m a former civilian prime minister, and my trial in a military court will tarnish the reputation of Pakistan,” he said, referring to speculation that Hamid’s testimony could implicate the former prime minister and invite a trial for the May 9 riots in military court.
During his informal chat with journalists, Khan also lamented that the former deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail had gone “missing” and no one was aware of his whereabouts. The former DSP is reportedly being investigated for ‘facilitating’ Khan beyond requirements under the Prison Rules.
To a question, Khan claimed NAB had found that the money remitted in the £190 million case was not secured through theft by property tycoon Malik Riaz. He claimed the federal cabinet had decided that since the money was not stolen, it should be brought back to Pakistan. “Malik Riaz’s money was frozen by the U.K.’s National Crime Agency over suspicious transactions. The money was frozen because Hassan Nawaz’s property worth Rs 9 billion was bought for Rs. 18 billion,” he alleged, adding he was told by Riaz that the deal with the NCA could not be made public so his government had kept it secret.
To a question on why the PTI had accepted Riaz’s statement without independent verification, Khan said there was no need of a probe after the tycoon’s statement. “What will we investigate after Malik Riaz’s statement? We would have had to go to the U.K. to investigate him and file a case in the civil court, which would have taken five years to decide,” he claimed.
The PTI founder also sought to dismiss reports of dealings between the PTI and Hameed after the latter’s retirement. “General Faiz was no longer a hero after his retirement; he became a zero,” he said, asking what benefit he could secure from maintaining ties with a retired Army official. “I was in touch with Faiz Hameed till the time he was DG ISI and I was the prime minister of Pakistan,” he claimed, adding these contacts had ended with Hamid’s retirement.
In a statement responding to Khan’s remarks, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the demand for an open trial of Hamid was an intervention in the Army’s internal affairs. Lamenting that Khan was trying to make the Army’s accountability process controversial, he urged the PTI founder to submit his response in the £190 million case instead of giving statements to defend Hamid. He claimed Khan’s contradictory statements regarding the former ISI chief reflected his personal concerns.