We have no political agenda, Court Martial proceedings initiated against Faiz Hameed after concrete evidence, says DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif has said that the Court Martial proceedings have been initiated against the former Head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed, and that they have no political agenda.

While addressing a Press Briefing related to national security held in Rawalpindi on Thursday, Lt General Ahmed Sharif said that an Inquiry was conducted against Faiz Hameed in the Top City Case after concrete evidence.

“The Pakistan Army believes in the process of self-accountability,” the DG ISPR said.

The ISPR said that through the Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed FGCM Case, Pakistan army once again has proven its stringent, time tested and transparent system of accountability which works on evidences and not mere allegations.

Lt General Ahmed Sharif said that we hope that other institutions will also practice self-accountability without any discrimination.

“Anyone who uses their position for personal or political purposes should be held accountable. The public trust in state institutions is their greatest asset,” he remarked.

The director general ISPR also said that “We have no political agenda; the Pakistan Army is a national army. The army is neither against any political party nor in favor of any one.”

The DG ISPR emphasized that it’s important to know that if any person in the army promotes a specific political agenda, the Pakistan army’s self-accountability system is activated, and those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

Lt General Ahmed Sharif said that nearly 4,000 anti-terror operations were conducted in the last month, and 90 extremists were killed. He said that “The war against terrorism will continue until the last extremist is eliminated.”

The DG ISPR said that terrorist activities in Balochistan were carried out at the behest of subversive elements existing both inside and outside the Country. He said that the incidents that occurred in Balochistan on August 25 and 26 have no connection with Islam, humanity, or Baloch traditions.

While giving a comprehensive point of view on Balochistan’s issue and holistically taking account of the ground situation & real issues, the DG ISPR dismissed the false propaganda as being churned out, highlighting and acknowledging the contributions and sacrifices of people of Balochistan.

Lt General Ahmed Sharif further said that as part of national counter terrorism strategy of clear, hold, build and transfer phases, Pakistan army has repeatedly been clearing and holding the areas; however, the process of build and transfer which is prime responsibility of local and provincial governments, has remained very slow and ineffective due to which army has to clear some areas time and again as when those areas are not built and transferred in a timely manner, terrorists again occupy those cleared spaces.

When asked about the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s in the appointment of Lt General Faiz Hameed as the Chief of Inter Services Intelligence, the DG ISPR said that the Head of ISI is the Prime Minister, adding that the retired officer (Faiz Hameed) is accused of exceeding constitutional boundaries at the behest of a specific political party.

The DG ISPR also brushed aside the rumours as being propagated on social media that  there are talks underway between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and establishment.

In his media briefing, the DG ISPR also conveyed a strong message of friendship and brotherhood for Afghanistan once more with word of caution for the neighboring Country to not allow its soil being used against Pakistan by Fitna al-Khawarij. He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that Afghanistan has to decide clearly which way it wants to go.