CM Gandapur Supports Trial of Former ISI Chief for Any Wrongdoing

Summary:

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur calls the arrest of former ISI chief Faiz Hamid an “internal affair” of the military, urging transparency in the trial.
• Faiz Hamid was detained over allegations of land grabbing and theft based on Supreme Court orders, with connections to the May 9 violent protests.
• PTI’s involvement in the May 9 incidents is under scrutiny, and Gandapur claims the violence was pre-planned.

In the wake of the recent arrest of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has described the development as an “internal affair” of the Pakistan Army.

Speaking to Geo News, Gandapur emphasized that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party refrains from commenting on such military matters and stressed the importance of transparency in any trial that may follow.

The arrest of Faiz Hamid was announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday. According to ISPR, Hamid was taken into custody over serious allegations, including land grabbing and stealing valuables from a private housing society owner, following Supreme Court directives.

The army conducted a detailed inquiry into the allegations as part of the investigation.

Gandapur suggested that if Hamid is found guilty of any wrongdoing, he should be tried accordingly. However, he highlighted the need for a transparent judicial process to ensure fairness. He also hinted that Hamid might have been involved in dubious activities while still in service.

The arrest of Hamid has also sparked political reactions. Independent Senator Faisal Vawada and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah have connected Hamid’s arrest with the PTI and the violent protests of May 9.

Vawada indicated that the arrest could have further implications for PTI leaders in the near future, and the May 9 events, marked by violent protests following Imran Khan’s arrest, might see further legal and political fallout.

Gandapur, reflecting on the May 9 incidents, suggested that the violence was pre-planned and urged the court to summon him to provide insights into the events leading up to the protests.

He claimed that his observations could shed light on the planning and execution of the unrest that followed Khan’s detention.