Former spymaster denies  influence in Shaukat Siddiqui's removal

Former ISI Chief, Lt. General (retd) Faiz Hameed Monday submitted his reply to the Supreme Court in connection with the petition filed by ex-Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui challenging his removal, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.  

The Supreme Court earlier issued notices to Faiz Hameed, IHC Chief Justice Anwar Khan Kasi, former Supreme Court Registrar Arbab Muhammad Arif, and Brig (retd) Irfan Ramay regarding the petition.

In his response, Faiz Hameed refuted the allegations leveled against him, denying any influence in Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui's removal as an IHC judge.

Faiz Hameed denied any meeting with the former IHC judge saying that Siddiqui neither in his speech nor in the judicial council made any mention of the meeting.

He told the Supreme Court that he never said “Our two-year efforts will go to waste”.

The accusations leveled by Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui are baseless, Faiz added.

The former ISI chief Faiz Hameed submitted his reply to the apex court through Khawaja Haris.

Former IHC Chief Justice Anwar Khan Kasi and Brigadier (R) Irfan Ramay also submitted their responses, rejecting the accusations made by Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.

During previous proceedings on December 15, a five-member bench led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan conducted proceedings on the plea of Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui against his removal as IHC judge.

The court proceedings were also broadcast live on the apex court’s website as well as on its YouTube channel.

 CJP Qazi Faez Isa remarked if the allegations made by Siddiqui were true, then “these army generals were facilitating someone else.” He asked ex-Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Azizi Siddiqui’s counsel if there was any officer who wanted to become Pakistan’s prime minister in 2018.

CJP observed that Shaukat Siddiqui named former DG ISI Faiz Hameed in the case. “Are you saying whatever happened was done on General (r) Bajwa’s orders.”

Bajwa asked Faiz Hameed to talk to Judge Sahab, about what he wanted, Hameed Khan was quoted as saying to CJP’s query.

Hamid Khan alleged that Fiaz Hameed wanted to keep the former prime minister in jail till the general elections in 2018 to ‘benefit another political party,’ Khan added.

At the outset of the hearing on December 16, CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked the country was heading towards democracy and the apex court was also becoming a democratic institution.

 Elaborating his remarks about democracy, CJP Isa said that Justice Tariq and Justice Ijazul Ahsan refused to join the bench, he did not remove anyone from the bench.

 Hamid Khan in his remarks said Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui was dismissed after a ‘speech’, which he also read before the SC bench. A reference was also filed against my client in the Faizabad sit-in case.

Jamsheed Dasti and a CDA officer were applicants, Khan said and claimed former ISI chief Faiz Hameed along with another officer visited Shaukat Siddiqui.

 At this juncture, CJP asked Hamid Khan why he had not made persons he is alleging as party in the case. It has become a trend to criticise institutions not personalities.

 “Every institution has good and bad people, if you are trying to save anyone, please tell,” CJP asked Hamid Khan. We will not allow you to raise allegations against anyone on their back, if you want then nominate them in your plea.

 Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s counsel claimed SJC did not allow them to make former ISI chief Faiz Hameed as respondent in the case.

 Now you have the chance, why aren’t you making him respondent in the case, CJP remarked and added we will not believe you without hearing to those, who are you accusing.

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori