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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday hinted at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s “open trial” in navy courtroom after the latter demanded the identical for ex-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid earlier right this moment.
The defence minister’s assertion got here hours after the previous premier referred to as for an open trial of General (retd) Faiz who was taken into custody by the navy over alleged abuse of energy and the Army Act violation earlier this month.
“We have no precedent that any common’s navy trial held in an open courtroom within the nation’s historical past,” mentioned Asif whereas talking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’.
“If the PTI founder faces any trial in a navy courtroom, then I can guarantee you that it will be open to the general public and media as a result of he’s a civilian.”
He additional clarified that it’s the navy’s custom to not conduct open trials of its staff and officers.
Accusing the previous ruling social gathering of working in collusion with the detained former spy chief, Asif mentioned that the final yr’s May 9 violent protests triggered by Khan’s arrest and noticed assaults on state properties together with navy installations have been pre-planned.
He additional alleged that the PTI founder offered the manpower for the May 9 riots whereas the previous high spy “masterminded the conspiracy”.
When questioned concerning the deposed prime minister’s statements denying any connections with the previous ISI chief, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief claimed that not solely Khan, PTI’s second-tier management had brazenly admitted to being involved with Gen (retd) Faiz even after May 9, 2023, riots.
During a casual interplay with journalists in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail earlier right this moment, the previous prime minister, who was faraway from workplace by way of a parliamentary vote in 2022, mentioned the open trial of ex-ISI chief would profit the nation and permit it to prosper.
Responding to Khan’s assertion, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar termed the ex-prime minister’s assertion an intervention within the military’s affairs.
Taking a swipe on the former PM, the knowledge mentioned the PTI founder was repeatedly attempting to make the matter associated to the military’s inner accountability course of “controversial” by way of his statements.
Following the previous spymaster’s arrest, the ex-premier had distanced himself from the retired common, who served as DG ISI throughout his tenure, claiming that he has no reference to him.
“If the navy needs the accountability of General Faiz [then] it ought to proceed and do it,” Khan mentioned, asserting that it’s the military’s inner matter.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had introduced the arrest of the previous ISI chief on August 12, saying that he was “taken into custody” over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the proprietor of a personal housing society.
“Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, an in depth courtroom of inquiry was undertaken by the Pakistan Army to establish the correctness of complaints within the Top City Case made in opposition to Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid,” the military’s media wing mentioned.
The strategy of courtroom martial has been initiated in opposition to the previous chief of the nation’s premier spy company over complaints within the Top City Case, it added.
Three extra retired officers have been taken into navy custody after Hamid’s arrest in reference to the identical housing scheme case.
Sources advised Geo News that two of the officers within the navy custody have been of brigadier rank and one was of colonel rank.
The two retired brigadiers have been recognized as Ghaffar and Naeem whereas the retired colonel’s title is Asim, they mentioned, including that they labored as messengers between a political social gathering and the ex-spymaster.
