Three more army officers arrested in ex-spymaster’s case

New pieces of evidence unearthed, says minister

COMING on the heels of arrest of former spy chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, three retired army officers have been taken into custody by the military.

Confirming this and other developments in the Field General Court Martial case against the former head of Inter-Services Intelligence, a press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said: “In connection with the FGCM proceedings of Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, three retired officers are also in military custody for their actions prejudicial to military discipline.”

“Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of, and in collusion with, vested political interests, are continuing,” it added.

According to a Geo News report, two of the officers languishing in custody are of brigadier rank, and one of colonel rank. The two retired brigadiers have been identified as Ghaffar and Naeem, while the retired colonel’s name is Asim, sources said, adding they were working as messengers between a political party and the ex-spymaster.

The two brigadiers accused of facilitating Lt Gen Hameed hail from Chakwal, the sources added. They said so far eight people have been taken into custody, including the retired officers, in connection with the proceedings against the former intelligence chief.

Separately, federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar hinted at more arrests. “No one can be allowed to put the country’s security at stake,” he said while talking to media personnel.

He said Lt Gen Hameed’s actions were guided by Imran Khan’s “wishes” and the former prime minister was “leading them all” from jail. After the ex-spymaster’s arrest, more evidence and more facts have come to light.

“All of it was being done at the behest of PTI founder. All of them damaged the country by conniving with the anarchic group,” the minister said, adding that accountability is needed for their actions.

He went on to say that more arrests would follow as the investigations advance and more names are revealed. “There is no pardon for harming the country,” he added.