Imran Khan calls Gen Faiz’s arrest ploy to try him in military court

Calling the arrest of former spymaster General (r) Faiz Hameed a drama staged to try him in a military court, former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan said on Monday that efforts were being made to make the ex-general an ‘approver’ in his case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In an informal chat with journalists at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, the incarcerated leader said all this was being done to grant an extension to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa. “They fear that the Supreme Court’s decision (reserved seats) might be implemented,” he added.

Responding to a question about whether the PTI would fall apart following his trial in a military court, he said that the people had given their verdict in the general elections held on February 8, and they stood firmly by it. “The party is getting stronger and stronger day by day. And whosoever thinks it is weakening lives in a fool’s paradise,” he added.

“They know all other cases against me have now hold no grounds, that’s why they wanted to take me to the military courts,” he said and added “They also want General Faiz to give some kind of statement that May 9 was a conspiracy.”

The PTI founder said Faiz Hameed would be used as an approver in his case case, saying “If General Faiz had ordered his arrest and stolen the CCTV footage then he should be arrested. One who conspires never demands judicial commission. I was put in jail despite the fact that the regime changed took place against me.”

“They are saying Faiz Hameed was the mastermind behind the events of May 9 but he got me arrested. It’s shameful that they are saying General Faiz used to issue directives to Bushra Bibi,” Imran Khan said.

The PTI founder maintained “They fear that if Justice Qasi Faez Isa is gong then there ‘election theft’ will be exposed. General Bajwa stabbed me in the back after striking a deal with Nawaz Sharif for removal of Faiz Hameed as ISI chief.

Imran Khan also discussed his efforts to combat terrorism in collaboration with the Afghan government, which were reportedly hindered by the removal of General Hameed and the appointment of a new ISI chief at the behest of Nawaz Sharif. He lamented the internal betrayal by Bajwa, which led to the fall of his government.”

“I’m not afraid if General Faiz turns an approver and gives statement against me,” he said and added “About General Faiz, I can say he had been holding talks with Taliban for three years, so he should not have been shown the door. I also asked General Bajwa not to remove him.”

The PTI founder said that attempts are being made to imprison him and his wife by using his former office boy as an approver. He accused the government of orchestrating a regime change conspiracy against PTI and criticized the current state of the country’s justice system, likening it to a banana republic where fairness is lacking.

New Toshakhana case

Earlier, an accountability court (AC) in Rawalpindi sent Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in the Toshakhana-II case.

Salman Safdar represented the former prime minister in the court, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team was led by Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon and Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi.

AC judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the case.  

Reporter: Hashir Ahsan