Ex-spymaster Faiz Hamid's outreach included 50 politicians, majority from PTI

• Sources say Hamid was barred from engaging in political activity. 
• ISPR says he has been formally charged on alleged misuse of power.
• Hamid's role in role creating agitation and unrest being investigated.

ISLAMABAD: Former director general (DG) of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid was in contact with around 50 politicians — most belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Nature of Hamid's links, direct or indirect, with the jailed founder chairman of PTI Imran Khan are under investigation.

Informed sources said that under the Army Act, Hamid was barred from engaging himself in any kind of political activity for five years from the date of his retirement.

Previously the bar was of two years but an amendment made in the Army Act in 2023 provided that those who remained posted, employed, seconded, tasked or otherwise attached to sensitive duties are forbidden from taking part in political activity of any kind during a period of five years from the date of retirement, release, resignation, discharge, removal or dismissal from the service.

On Tuesday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in statement that the former ISI chief has been formally charged with multiple offences, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act.

The ISPR stated these violations have compromised state security and interests.

“[...] and in the first place has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority and government resources and causing wrongful loss to a person(s),” the ISPR added.

Moreover, the military’s media wing said the former spy master’s role in creating agitation and unrest including May 9 riots “in collusion with vested political interests” was also being investigated.

The ISPR said, “During the process, involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Retd), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, leading upto multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th May 2023 incident for fomenting instability; at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, is also being separately investigated.”

“Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (retd) is being afforded [...] all legal rights as per the law,” it added.

Following the arrest of Hamid, it was reported by The News while quoting sources that the former DG ISI has been in contact with Khan via "numerous links" even after May 9 and following the arrest of the former prime minister. The nature of these links, direct or indirect, are being investigated.

The story published in mid-August this year, referred to “jail network”, certain politicians and others are among the numerous contact links between Khan and the former DG ISI.

It was claimed by the sources that before his arrest, Hamid's was warned more than once about his post-retirement objectionable activities by the military authorities but he had not stopped.

Khan, however, had distanced himself from Hamid's arrest by the military authorities. His legal team that met him in Adiala jail within days after the arrest of Hamid had said that it was an internal matter of the army and that his party had nothing to do with it.

Senior lawyer Intizar Panjutha, speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Rawalpindi jail at that time, had quoted Khan as saying that the arrest of Hamid was purely an internal army issue and the PTI had no connection to it.

“It is clear that Imran Khan had no political connection with General Faiz. It was General Bajwa who made a deal with Nawaz Sharif and replaced General Faiz,” the lawyer had quoted Khan as saying. 

Panjutha further explained that Imran Khan had suggested that if Hamid's arrest was related to the events of May 9 and he had any role in them, it would be a good opportunity to form a judicial commission and bring forward the CCTV footage from that day.

Originally published in The News