Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, has recently called for an open trial of Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, who is currently in military custody on charges of abuse of power and violating the Army Act. Khan’s demand for transparency in the trial, including media access, comes amidst his own legal troubles, as he has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail for over a year on various charges.
Khan’s call for an open trial is positioned as a way to benefit the country by ensuring that the process of accountability is transparent and comprehensive. He expressed that the trial should be publicized to allow the media to cover it, emphasizing that such transparency could foster national prosperity.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has criticized Khan’s demand, suggesting that it constitutes an undue intervention in the army’s internal affairs. Tarar accused Khan of attempting to make the situation surrounding the army’s internal accountability process controversial and urged him to focus on his own legal issues rather than defending Hamid. He noted that Khan’s shifting statements about Hamid indicated concern and unease on his part.
The arrest of Faiz Hamid, who was a prominent figure during Khan’s tenure, has sparked significant discussion. Khan had previously distanced himself from Hamid, asserting that the accountability process should be handled internally by the military. He welcomed the army’s initiative to address internal issues but insisted that accountability should be consistent and fair.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed Hamid’s arrest, stating that it was related to allegations of land grabbing and misappropriation of valuables in the Top City Case. A court of inquiry has been initiated in accordance with the Supreme Court’s orders, and a court martial process is underway. Alongside Hamid, three additional retired officers have been taken into custody in connection with the case, including two brigadiers and a colonel, who are alleged to have facilitated communications between Hamid and a political party.
