Well-known journalist and columnist Javed Chaudhary has said that the trial of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed will be completed by March 2025. Talking to the host Shaukat Pracha on Aaj News program, Javed Chaudhary said that usually such a trial takes 6 to 7 months. Everything is ready. Ex-spy master and witnesses are being interrogated. In this conversation, the 26th constitutional amendment, further changes in laws and the trial against former Prime Minister Imran Khan were also openly discussed.
Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed was arrested on August 12, 2024 for violating the Army Act. The move was taken on a complaint of misconduct by the owner of a private housing society.
Javed Chaudhary said that according to the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army organized a court of inquiry to correct the issues related to the complaints related to the Top City case. As a result, disciplinary action has been taken against Faiz Hameed, under the Army Act. This has been stated in the press release of ISPR. Evidence of other violations of the Army Act has also been found against Faiz Hameed after his retirement.
According to Javed Chaudhary, as far as I can understand, the army system is similar to that of western investigative agencies. First, evidence is collected, then witnesses and suspects are interrogated, also known as interviews, and evidence is presented to the suspect or suspects. Javed Chaudhary said that the former chief of the Central Intelligence Agency had decided to fight the case, denying all the allegations.
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When Javed Chaudhary was told that Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had said that Faiz Hameed’s case has not even started yet, he said that he might have better information as the Defense Minister.
When asked about Senator Faisal Wauda’s claims, Javed Chaudhary said that there is a perception in the army that former Prime Minister Imran Khan influenced the former ISI chief. Javed Chaudhary claimed that many believed that the former prime minister had replaced Faiz Hameed. Every lieutenant general has a desire to become an army chief in his heart. When a prime minister says that I see an army chief in you, the effect is bound to come.
When asked about the events before the no-confidence motion against founder PTI, Javed Chaudhary said that former Army Chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was offered life extension by former Defense Minister Pervez Khattak. . He said that in March 2022, founder PTI had called the office of DGISI and made this offer. Then there was no shame in saying so.
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Javed Chaudhary also said that former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum was also present in the room when PTI founder made the call. Javed Choudhary further said that there are many other versions of this story. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif opposed the extension of General (Rtd) Qamar Javed Bajwa despite the desire and efforts of Shehbaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other leaders.
Nawaz Sharif had finalized the name of General Asim Munir and hung up the phone and went on a trip to Europe with his daughter. The PML-N chief returned at the same time as the new army chief was sworn in.
Javed Chaudhary, who hosts a current affairs show titled Kal Tak on Express News, claimed that the government adopted Maulana Fazal Laki’s support for the 27th Amendment by adopting a carrot-and-stick strategy. On one side was encouragement and on the other was discipline.
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Javed Chaudhary explained that the carrot was the meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the stick was that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was one of the JUIF legislators. He claimed that Maulana Fazlur Rahman was made the head of the parliamentary committee when the deal on the constitutional amendment was reached.
Javed Chaudhary said that Fazlur Rehman took out four things from the draft of constitutional amendments. First, the cases of those who attacked state and military installations will be tried in military courts.
This case was related to the events of May 9. II Rotation of High Court Judges. He claimed that if this had not happened, Bishri Bibi as well as Imran Khan’s sisters would have been granted bail. Thirdly, if a senior judge of the Supreme Court is made Chief Justice, other senior judges will not resign. Fourthly, that there is no constitutional court.
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Founder PTI rejected the offer. Javed Chaudhary claimed that the former prime minister will be released from jail only through a deal. Citing conspiracy theories, Javed Chaudhry questioned how Bishri Bibi was granted bail and reached Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without being arrested in any new case.
Javed Chaudhary said that 20 MNAs of the Sunni Alliance Council were on the side of the government. He raised the question that if the 27th Amendment was related to the amendment of the Military Courts Act, how would the PPP be able to oppose it.
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**Interview with Javed Chaudhary, Journalist and Columnist**
**Interviewer**: Welcome to our special segment. Today, we have with us Javed Chaudhary, a well-known journalist and columnist. Thank you for joining us, Javed.
**Javed Chaudhary**: Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer**: Your recent comments regarding the trial of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed have stirred quite a discussion. You mentioned that the trial is expected to be completed by March 2025. Can you elaborate on that timeline?
**Javed Chaudhary**: Certainly. Trials like this typically take around six to seven months, and given that everything is prepared — from evidence to witness interrogation — I believe we should expect the proceedings to wrap up by the target date.
**Interviewer**: Faiz Hameed’s arrest came under serious allegations. How are these proceedings being conducted, especially in relation to military law?
**Javed Chaudhary**: The Pakistan Army has set up a court of inquiry, acting on the Supreme Court’s orders, to address complaints regarding the Top City case. Disciplinary actions under the Army Act have already been taken based on the findings from this inquiry.
**Interviewer**: You’ve compared the army’s investigative processes to Western agencies. Could you explain that further?
**Javed Chaudhary**: Yes, the process is quite systematic. They collect evidence, interrogate witnesses, and then present this to the suspects. This methodical approach ensures thoroughness in handling such serious allegations.
**Interviewer**: There have been conflicting statements about the status of Faiz Hameed’s case. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif indicated that the case hasn’t even begun. What’s your take on this?
**Javed Chaudhary**: The Defense Minister may have access to different information, but from what I’ve gathered, significant progress has been made. The complexities of military inquiries often lead to such discrepancies in public statements.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned the perception within military circles regarding former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s influence. Can you expand on that?
**Javed Chaudhary**: There’s a sentiment in the army that Khan had a significant impact on Hameed’s tenure as ISI chief. The prospect of becoming army chief is a powerful motivator for many in their ranks, and such influences often complicate relationships.
**Interviewer**: You also touched on the political dynamics surrounding the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. What can you share about that pivotal moment?
**Javed Chaudhary**: It was a moment filled with political maneuvering. Former Army Chief General Bajwa was offered a life extension, which highlights the intricate relationship between politics and military leadership at that time.
**Interviewer**: Lastly, can you comment on how the current government is navigating through these political waters, particularly with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s involvement?
**Javed Chaudhary**: The government appears to be employing a balance of encouragement and discipline—what I refer to as the “carrot-and-stick” approach. Meetings with key political figures like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari act as the carrot, while maintaining discipline amongst coalition partners serves as the stick.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Javed, for sharing your insights on this complex political landscape. Your perspective helps shed light on the ongoing developments in Pakistan.
**Javed Chaudhary**: Thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to discuss such important issues.
