Dar blames Imran Khan, Gen Faiz for 'bringing terror to Pakistan'

LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has blamed the recent wave of terror attacks inside the country on the former Inter-Services Intelligence director general (DG ISI) Lt General (retired) Faiz Hamid and former prime minister Imran Khan, accusing them of rehabilitating hardened criminals into Pakistani settled areas during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government, enabling the terrorists gain stronghold in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and elsewhere.

Dar questioned Imran-led government's decision to dash Faiz to Kabul soon after the takeover of Taliban government in 2021 where the ex-spymaster was caught on camera saying that "everything will be okay".

"What do you hope is going to happen now in Afghanistan," a reporter asked Gen (retd) Faiz. "Don't worry, everything will be okay," the former ISI chief said.

Dar questioned the ex-ISI chief's words and the decision to allow TTP militants back in Pakistani areas at a press conference in London here on Saturday. 

"What happened after that. Over 100 hardened criminals were released, they have now become commanders. They are the masterminds behind terror attacks today in Pakistan. Nearly 40,000 of those who had fled during Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and Zerb-e-Azb were allowed back to Pakistan. Today’s terror is linked to that," he said. 

Dar said Faiz didn't go to Afghanistan without Khan’s blessing. "This is common sense. Terror attacks and violence in many parts are linked. Things could have been different if Faiz had not done that."

The deputy PM heaped praise on the incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and the ISI chief. 

"They deserve the highest accolades for being high class professionals. They are completely apolitical and they want to see Pakistan on the right track. The army chief’s agenda is Pakistan. This is a very good omen for Pakistan. There is a clear agenda for Pakistan and it is reflected through his words and actions. There is cohesion of this agenda as far as the government and the military leadership is concerned. They are not interested in any politics."

Dar said there is complete consensus between the government and the military on all national issues.

When asked about Khan’s race to become the Oxford University chancellor, the deputy PM said: "It’s for the university to make a decision on how it wants to be seen. The university has its own criteria. Imran Khan is a convicted person at this moment. This is against the university’s criteria as it stands and anything otherwise would be seen as purely political. I studied at the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants UK and I can say with confidence they wouldn’t allow him to become even a councillor, let alone a chancellor."

Dar said he discussed the issue of fake news through social media with the UK government and told them how the UK carried out speedy justice to convict involved in recent riots across the country, but criticised Pakistan for its actions against those involved in violent actions including in 9 May attacks.

He said that there is no doubt that Pakistan was a victim of geo-politics and the big power play. He said that some forces wanted Pakistan to "default last year" and there was a huge noise about it but the Pakistani leadership prevented it and showed it has strength.

"We have to become an economic power at any cost. I used to be asked if Pakistan would default but I stressed that 'IMF or no IMF we will not default'."

Dar said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif was fully active and it wasn’t true that he had taken a back seat. 

"He is fully active, leading the party. He has got Shehbaz Sharif as the PM to lead the team. The federal and Punjab governments are acting upon his advice. He says we will pay any price, politically, to fix the country. We are working under his guidance," he added.

Moreover, Dar said that General (retd) Faiz was being tried under the military act and it was for the military to decide how it prosecutes those involved in violating the military rules. He said the speedy UK justice system seen in recent days is an example for all to see. "The law will take its own course but those who attacked the military [installations] on 9 May should not have gone to this extent. This is not tolerable anywhere."

He said that the government was making efforts to revive flights to and from the United Kingdom as soon as possible.

"We have made every effort, even we changed the laws as per the latest requirements of the Aviation Authority of UK to solve the issue of resumption of PIA flights," the deputy prime minister said.

He said an irresponsible statement of a minister from the previous government of PTI grounded all aircraft of Pakistan in Europe, UK and the Western World.

Dar, who is on his official visit to the UK, said the government was taking two more actions of privatisation of Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport. He informed that the process was moving on fast track, hoping that it might be completed by the 10th of next month.

He pointed out that Pakistan attached high importance to the long-standing partnership with the United Kingdom and the real pivot of the bilateral relationship was the Pakistani diaspora.

“I believe that the British Pakistanis have proved to be the most articulate, the most diverse and the most effective and vibrant who are contributing not only to the development of the host country but also that of Pakistan,” he added.

He highlighted that the British Pakistani community also happened to be the most politically active community among overseas communities in the UK. "We have two cabinet members, 15 members in the house of commons, 11 in house of lords and hundreds of councillors, and mayors and deputy mayors."

He informed that the food inflation came back to only 2% from double digit, while the GDP growth recorded 6%. Pakistan became the best stock market in Asia and 5th best in the world, he added.

By 2017, he said Pakistan became the 24th global economy. However, he said in the post 2018 era, the next government’s bad governance resulted in declining the rank to 47 in 2022, which he said was the saddest part of the country’s economy.

Regarding terrorism, the deputy prime minister said in 2013, economy, extremism and electricity load shedding were the three biggest challenges that were overcome by the PML-N government due to its hard work and prudent policies.