Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan has demanded that an open trial be conducted for former intelligence chief Faiz Hameed.
In an informal discussion with journalists at Adiala Jail on Wednesday, the former prime minister made several provocative statements regarding the trial of General Faiz Hameed and the May 9 conspiracy case.
Imran, who is currently incarcerated, said: "I demand the army chief conduct the trial of General Faiz in an open court."
He argued that his case, as well as that of Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed was not solely an internal military issue, but a broader concern that affects Pakistan’s image. Imran asked in which democracy a former prime minister is tried in a military court. “I'm a former civilian prime minister, and my trial in a military court will tarnish the reputation of Pakistan,” he remarked.
He further said that in an open trial, the media must be allowed to go cover it, adding that an open trial will benefit the country and help it develop. "The regime change and May 9 conspiracies will be exposed through an open trial. If I have rebelled, conduct an open trial for me too,"he maintained.
The Adiala Jail deputy superintendent has been picked up, and his wife is demanding justice, none of which is available. "All this is being done with such haste because all the cases against me are getting dismissed," he claimed.
The former PM said the NAB investigator had stated that Malik Riaz’s money in the 190 million pounds case was not stolen, after which the reference was closed. He said they discussed the case in the cabinet meeting that if this money is not stolen, it should be brought back to Pakistan.
“Malik Riaz's money was frozen by the UK's National Crime Agency over suspicious transactions. The money was frozen because Hassan Nawaz's property worth Rs9 billion was bought for Rs18 billion.”
Imran Khan claimed that they were told by Malik Riaz not to make the deal with NCA public, so they kept it secret. The FIA and NAB could have probed the deal between Malik Riaz and NCA, adding that they have earned $20 billion so far from the money that Pakistan received from Britain.
When a reporter remarked that the PTI government accepted Malik Riaz's statement that the money did not come from theft or money laundering, and asked why before taking an approval from the cabinet they did not investigate the banking channel through which the money had been sent outside Pakistan, the former prime minister said when the government was told so by Malik Riaz there was no need for an investigation.
“You only believed what Malik Riaz said and gave him protection,” the reporter commented. Imran said Malik Riaz did not tell him the money did not come from theft or money laundering, but the message was conveyed through advisor Shahzad Akbar.
“What will we investigate after Malik Riaz's statement? We would have had to go to the UK to investigate him and file a case in the civil court, which would have taken five years to decide,” the PTI founder maintained.
Imran Khan further commented on the status of General Faiz Hameed post-retirement. “General Faiz was no longer a hero after his retirement; he became a zero,” he asserted, questioning what benefit there would be in maintaining ties with him. He also stated that if Faiz Hameed was the central figure in the May 9 conspiracy, he should be tried in an open court.
“I was in touch with Faiz Hameed till the time he was DG ISI and I was the prime minister of Pakistan,” Imran Khan claimed, adding that as soon as Faiz Hameed retired, he did not remain in contact or any relationship with him.
“If a general retires from the army, he is relieved and has no power,” Imran maintained. He emphasized that the May 9 issue is a local matter rather than one of national security.
