JUI-F chief admits ‘gaffe’ about ex-ISI DG

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday “clarified” his earlier statement about former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed’s role in the no-trust motion against the then Premier and PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, saying that he had “mistakenly” mentioned his name.

A day earlier while speaking to a private TV news channel, Fazl accused former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt Gen (retd) Faiz of orchestrating the downfall of the PTI government led by Imran in April 2022.

Elaborating on the events of the no-confidence vote through which the country saw for the first time in its history the ouster of a prime minister, the JUI-F chief claimed that the former army chief and ex-spymaster were in touch with all the opposition political parties in connection with the no-trust motion and they guided them about it.

“I was opposed to the idea of tabling a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan,” Fazl claimed. “(Lt) Gen (retd) Faiz had come to me and he asked me to go ahead [with the no-confidence vote], but only within the system, not out of it. Though I refused it,” he claimed.

The JUI-F explained that he changed his stance once representatives from various parties approached him for joint action. “If I had refused it again, they would say I am saving Imran.”

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Fazl was among the top opposition leaders, who spearheaded the efforts to oust the PTI founding chairman under the banner of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

However, Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum replaced Lt Gen (retd) Faiz as the ISI DG in Oct 2021. Lt Gen (retd) Faiz was posted as the Peshawar corps commander when the PTI government was removed from power.

After a PML-N leader pointed out this mistake at a news conference earlier in the day, the JUI-F chief swiftly acknowledged his “error” but maintained his stance on Gen (retd) Bajwa and Lt Gen (retd) Faiz’s alleged involvement in rigging the 2018 elections.

In another interview with a private TV news channel, Fazl insisted that this matter should be consigned to history instead of being discussed more.

He said he had disclosed everything and that was enough.

“We wanted to remove the PTI government through a no-confidence motion. The PDM, PPP, and ANP used to have daily meetings. Gen (retd) Bajwa had held many meetings with me alone.”

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Talking about the recently held elections and meeting with the PTI delegation, Fazl said that transparent elections did not take place anywhere in the country, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

"Despite our differences, the PTI delegation came and held a positive meeting. We agreed [with them] that rigging did take place in K-P.”

He further said he would not give priority to personal grudges over national goals.

"Differences are there [with the PTI] but they are not personal rather at party level.”