ISLAMABAD:
The chief military spokesperson on Thursday alluded to the prospect that former prime minister Imran Khan will go on trial under the Army Act in a case involving former ISI chief Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed, despite declaring that the army has no political agenda and does not support or oppose any party.

Imran Khan has raised worries that he could be involved since Gen. Faiz’s detention. In addition, the former prime minister filed a motion with the Islamabad High Court, requesting an injunction against any potential military trial.

When a journalist inquired about the PTI leadership’s worries during a news conference in Rawalpindi, DG ISPR Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry responded, “The case is sub judice, however I will add that according to military law, The law will follow its own course if somebody exploits people under the Army Act for their own ends.

Speculation among observers suggests that the jailed PTI founder may have been involved in the ongoing court martial proceedings against General Faiz, the former head of the ISI. This is according to the DG ISPR’s planned remarks.

Allegations against the former spymaster range from abuse of power to corruption, from disobedience to military discipline, and from working with a political party to subvert the army’s institution after retirement.

There was friction between Faiz’s government and the GHQ because of his perceived closeness to Imran Khan. Imran has made it clear time and time again that, given the changing circumstances in neighboring Afghanistan, he wanted Gen. Faiz to stay on as DG ISI. But given the internal transfer/posting procedure inside the army, then Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was adamant that Faiz’s transfer from the ISI was inevitable.

Khan then asserted that Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister, ordered Gen. Faiz’s removal as DG ISI.

At one point, Faiz was a serious candidate to become army chief.

There are rumors that he and Khan began planning a plot to overthrow the current military leadership when he was passed up for the sought position at that time. The military hasn’t stated it clearly, but some accounts associate Gen. Faiz with the violent protests on May 9 that included attacks on military sites.

During the DG ISPR press conference on Thursday, there were numerous indications that one of the primary accusations against Gen. Faiz was that he had used his position for political and personal benefit.

The Pakistan Army is a national institution with no political objective, as General Sharif made very clear. He claimed that there was total agreement inside the organization for the army to avoid becoming involved in politics.

He maintained that the army, as an institution, functions in tandem with elected government in accordance with the law and the Constitution. He emphasized, “The army neither supports nor opposes any political party.”

He claimed that following the discovery of numerous infractions of the Pakistan Army Act, court martial procedures were commenced against Faiz Hameed.

He made it clear that everyone implicated in this issue, regardless of status or level, will be held accountable. He underlined the military’s commitment to self-accountability, pointing out that the army’s accountability system is extensive, strong, and “time-tested,” founded on substantial facts as opposed to bare claims.

According to him, when army rules and regulations are broken, an automatic accountability system is set in motion, granting the offending officers all legal rights, including the freedom to select their own attorney.

According to DG ISPR, “We hope that such self-accountability will also encourage other institutions.”

He emphasized that Pakistan is fighting terrorism using a strategy that has been approved and integrated, with participation from different administrations, political parties, and stakeholders.

He said that throughout the course of the fight on terror, more than 46,000 square kilometers of territory had been cleaned of terrorists.

He went on to say that since the “clear and hold” phases had been effectively finished, there is no place in Pakistan where terrorists still have power.

He denounced the targeting of defenseless bystanders, characterizing it as an expression of the terrorists’ desperation and mentality.

“We acknowledge the sense of deprivation and the belief in state oppression in Balochistan, which some external forces exploit for their own detrimental ends,” he stated. “Through intimidation and fear, these forces hope to sabotage the ongoing development and welfare projects in Balochistan.”

“The state will deal with the enemies of citizens’ lives, property, and progress with an iron hand,” the DG ISPR declared in a harsh message to terrorists.

He went on to say that Balochistan is Pakistan’s heart and soul. Seldom can an officer in the army claim not to have served there. The constraints posed by the region’s vast expanse and scant population impact not only the Baloch but also the Pashtuns and other ethnic groups.

He claims that a false narrative about Baluchistan’s lack of genuine representation is being developed, and the rhetoric is based on a feeling of deprivation.

He claimed that the facilitation and safe havens provided to the outlawed terrorist groups inside were among the primary causes of the rise in terrorist assaults.

He stated there is communication between the Pakistani administration and the acting Afghan government.

“We have excellent relations with Afghanistan despite all these problems, and those who believe they can cause a rift between the two friendly neighboring countries are misguided,” he emphasized, seemingly signaling a shift in Pakistan’s approach to appease the Afghan Taliban over the TTP ban.

The DG ISPR made it very evident that the war on terrorism is still being waged in accordance with a sanctioned plan. It is the responsibility of the Pakistan Army to rid terrorist-affected areas and maintain security in those areas in order to create an atmosphere that is favorable for social and economic advancement.

The Pakistan Army has cleared the regions and ensured security, as per the DG ISPR’s subsequent remarks, and it is currently carrying out over 100 intelligence-based operations every day.