Government Alleges Conspiracy
Pakistani government has accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of orchestrating a political conspiracy to incite chaos and division in the country, involving a former ISI chief and other key figures. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, is behind efforts to destabilize the nation, with retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed as a co-conspirator. Hameed served as the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during Khan’s tenure as prime minister from 2019 to 2021.
Arrests and Investigations
Hameed, who was recently arrested on charges related to the misuse of official authority, has been implicated in the conspiracy alongside three other retired military officers. The arrests were made following a complaint by a private property developer. Tarar suggested that the scope of the investigation into Hameed and his associates will expand in the coming days, highlighting the military’s internal accountability mechanisms. He emphasized that Khan maintained contact with these individuals even during his incarceration, continuing to conspire with what Tarar described as an “unholy political alliance.”
Khan’s Response and Historical Tensions
Despite his recent distancing from the former ISI chief, Imran Khan appeared to confirm his close relationship with Hameed, suggesting that the general’s transfer to the Peshawar Corps was part of a larger conspiracy against the PTI government. Khan also accused former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of orchestrating the transfer at the behest of political rival Nawaz Sharif. This strained relationship between Khan and the military, particularly after Hameed’s removal from the ISI, marked the beginning of the deterioration of ties with the military establishment.
Lt. Gen. (retd.) Hameed, once considered a powerful figure within the military, took early retirement in November 2022, following the appointment of the current Army Chief. The position of ISI chief is one of the most influential roles within the Pakistan Army, an institution that has dominated the country’s politics and security for much of its history.
