Faiz's trusted friend confirms arranging 600m Sputnik for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Mohsin Habib Warraich, a former close associate of General (retd) Faiz Hamid, has confirmed that he arranged for Sputnik vaccines for Pakistan at the request of the Pakistani state. The trusted friend helped save $600 million for the country by facilitating a G2G contract, between the UAE and the government of Pakistan.

He also rejected any suggestion that he was helped in the process by General Faiz, the former spy chief, now facing a military trial over political meddling as well as accusations of financial corruption.

Sources close to Mohsin Habib Warraich reached out to The News after publication of the story on Friday titled “Faiz’s trusted man leaves Pakistan as troubles mount” and shared their version.

The sources confirmed that Mohsin is not in Pakistan but stressed he has not fled Pakistan and was in Pakistan till June this year and then left for abroad for business purposes. News had started circulating around 3-4 months ago that Faiz could be questioned over his conduct whilst in office and after the exit but none thought the military would take such a huge action against him.

Sources close to Warraich said, after reports were published about his alleged dealing with Faiz and on his behalf, that these reports were false and portrayed their relation negatively and without any basis.

The source said: “Mohsin Habib Wraich’s father Major (retd) Habib Ullah Warraich is an ex-army and former federal defence production minister. His circle of friends and associates since childhood have mainly been people from army or military background and we are proud of that. Mohsin never visited Moscow nor any involved with any army department or registered directly or indirectly for defence deals nor was introduced by anyone.”

The source denied that Mohsin was facilitated in the NICL court scandal by Faiz or anyone else. “On the contrary Justice (retd) Saqib Nisar, gunned against NICL and Mohsin Warraich.”

The source added the Sputnik deal that Mohsin secured 600m Sputnik vaccines for Pakistan and Mohsin “should have been awarded National award” for his services to the country. Intelligence sources have claimed Mohsin Warraich was able to secure the deal with full help from General (retired) Faiz, then considered one of the most powerful people in Pakistan when the COVID virus broke out.

The source claimed that Mohsin saved Pakistan a lot of money. He claimed Mohsin stepped into the deal at the request of the Pakistani state. He said: “Sputnik was brought into Pakistan at $75. The cost of Sputnik was $13 but it was sold at $75. The case of $75 is still pending and should be investigated as to why and how it was brought to $75. Mohsin from 2010 worked with African presidents on oil trade as well as other international businesses and has not done any business with Pakistan.”

The source said Mohsin runs an international advisory from UAE, had no business dealings with Faiz and not needed in any inquiry.

The News had reported former Pakistan spy chief General Faiz Hamid’s one of the most trusted frontman Mohsin Habib Warraich has allegedly left Pakistan to evade investigation into the military trial of former powerful general by his own institution on charges of corruption and misuse of power.

Mohsin is the central figure of National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam involving over two billion rupees. He lived in exile in London for a number of years from 2010 until General Faiz brought him back to Pakistan after guaranteeing his safety and protection from the government and legal proceedings.

Mohsin is considered to be one of the closest men to General Faiz who managed business deals for the retired general starting from 2014 till now and relocated to Pakistan from London on Faiz’s request. They both became close in London whilst General Faiz was a Brigadier attending the UK Royal Defence College for two years.

Mohsin became Faiz’s trusted man, arranging things for him including shopping sprees and entertainment, according to people familiar with them. The trust level developed quickly because Faiz’s father-in-law and Mohsin’s father Habibullah Warraich were batch mates in Kakul military academy.

General Faiz led the ISI during Imran Khan's administration from 2019 to 2021 before taking early retirement in December 2022 but he was extremely powerful in the military’s intelligence wing after returning from London in late 2015 when he was made the DGC – the head of intelligence affairs inside Pakistan. He enjoyed huge powers and used these powers for his personal benefits and those of his favored people.

Mohsin had first fled Pakistan for London in 2010 and avoided several orders of Pakistani courts to return to Pakistan until Faiz intervened.

General Faiz is in custody and his version is not known but he previously denied any wrongdoing when allegations against him and his family members surfaced.