Ex-spymaster Faiz Hameed dispels speculations about joining politics

I will not join politics before or after the two-year bar, says retired general

Former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has dispelled the speculations that he was planning to enter the political arena by joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

According to a local media report, the ex-spymaster termed the rumors about him joining politics or leading the PTI as “totally false”.

“I will not join politics before or after the two-year bar [in Constitution for retired government officers,” the former general was quoted as saying.

His statement comes after a video of him went viral on social media wherein the former three-star general can be seen attending an event reportedly hosted by the local PTI leadership in his hometown of Chakwal.

In the video, an unidentified person, addressing the gathering, praised the services of the retired general and urged him to join politics to play his role for the betterment of the country.

چکوال میں جنرل (ر ) فیض حمید کے گاوں لطیفال میں تقریب، تحریک انصاف کے رہنماوں نے جنرل فیض سے عملی سیاست میں آنے کا مطالبہ کر دیا، یہ بھی بتایا کہ دوران سروس جنرل فیض حمید نے اپنے علاقے میں ترقیاتی کاموں کے لیے فنڈز جاری کرائے ۔ #faizhameed #PTI pic.twitter.com/9omu2nFkHr

— MOHSIN NAWAZ (@ask_not_why) December 15, 2022

Last month, then Corps Commander Bahawalpur Lt General Faiz sought early retirement after being overlooked for the post of army chief.

The former general was among the six most senior generals considered for the posts of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and the chief of army staff.

Also read: Lt Gen Faiz Hameed decides to seek early retirement: family sources

The government went with the principle of seniority and appointed General Asim Munir as army chief and General Sahir Shamshad as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

He remained in the spotlight for several years for various reasons.

He first rose to prominence when he was heading the counter-intelligence wing of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), known as DG-C. His name surfaced on the agreement government had signed with Tehreek-e-Labaik (TLP) to end the 21-day-long sit-in at Faizabad in November 2017.

He was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and subsequently returned to the ISI as its chief. The PML-N had repeatedly accused him of influencing the courts to ensure convictions against its leadership.

He was at the center of yet another controversy when then-premier Imran Khan wanted him to continue as DG ISI but then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had other plans.

People who know and work with Gen (retd) Faiz state that he is a brilliant officer.