Fazl retracts allegation against Gen Faiz

ISLAMABAD Monitoring Desk) : Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Friday clarified his remarks regarding the role of former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed — the then-Peshawar corps commander — in the no-confidence vote against former prime minister Imran Khan and the PTI government, saying that he had mistakenly uttered the ex-spy master’s name.

“Gen Faiz had come to me and he asked me to go ahead [with the no-confidence vote], but only within the system, but not out of the system. Though I refused it,” he had added. It must be mentioned that Gen (retd) Faiz was replaced as the ISI director-general by Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum in October 2021, and posted as the Peshawar corps commander when the PTI government was ousted.

Fazl’s remarks had triggered a flurry in political circles, with his former allies in the PDM-led government as well as the PTI both passing comments on the allegations. Questioned about the matter and the alleged responses from the generals in a fresh interview on GTV news programme G for Gharidah, Fazl acknowledged that “it is correct to this extent that I mistakenly uttered Gen Faiz’s name and he was not [involved in the no-confidence incident] … there is no doubt.” He further said that he considered the former generals and “their whole regime” responsible for the alleged rigging in the 2018 general elections.

“Instead of further debate, this should be relegated to history.” He said when the two generals were alerted about political, economic and defence instability during the PTI government, they began approaching politicians to “stabilise the situation”. Fazl said the establishment had always had a role in the country’s politics — a practice he said should end. Regarding the challenge — by sources close to Gen (retd) Bajwa — to make the allegations under oath, Fazl said it was a waste of time to discuss oaths, especially when “there is no respect for their [own] oaths among the military.”

“Is there respect for the oath in their ranks … in the army … among generals? Don’t they take an oath of not interfering in politics when they are commissioned? Don’t they know they are interfering, have always done so and keep breaking their oath?” questioned the JUI-F chief. “What importance will it (repeating the allegation under oath) have in my eyes if the one who asked me of it has always interfered in politics during their job and keeps violating their oath?”

Asked if he wanted an investigation into the matter, Fazl wondered who would do so, and whether a truth and reconciliation commission could, since he did not have faith in the current situation and institutions. Elaborating on his allegation of the military’s meddling in political affairs, Fazl said that on March 26, 2022, the PDM parties were given the option that Imran could tender his resignation if they dropped the no-confidence motion against him. Fazl said before he even joined the meeting, other participants had given their answer that the time for Imran’s resignation had passed. Questioned about his first purported meeting with retired Gen Bajwa or other military officials on the no-confidence move, the JUI-F chief said he had “many private meetings”.