{"id":60878,"date":"2024-02-16T17:03:04","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T17:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/role-in-imrans-ouster-fazl-retracts-allegation-against-gen-faiz-says-ex-spymasters-name-uttered-by-mistake\/"},"modified":"2024-02-16T17:03:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T17:03:04","slug":"role-in-imrans-ouster-fazl-retracts-allegation-against-gen-faiz-says-ex-spymasters-name-uttered-by-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/role-in-imrans-ouster-fazl-retracts-allegation-against-gen-faiz-says-ex-spymasters-name-uttered-by-mistake\/","title":{"rendered":"Role in Imran\u2019s ouster: Fazl retracts allegation against Gen Faiz, says ex-spymaster\u2019s name uttered by mistake"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Friday clarified his remarks<\/a> regarding the role of former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed \u2014 the then-Peshawar corps commander \u2014 in the no-confidence vote<\/a> against former prime minister Imran Khan and the PTI government, saying that he had mistakenly uttered the ex-spy master\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Pakistan had seen for the first time in its history the ouster of a prime minister through a vote of no-confidence (VONC), the efforts for which were led by<\/a> the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of parties led by the PML-N.<\/p>\n

For its part, the PTI had accused<\/a> the PDM of colluding with the US and hatching a regime change conspiracy to topple Imran\u2019s government and blamed the military, which was led by Bajwa at the time, for letting the then-dispensation in Islamabad go ahead with the alleged conspiracy. The US has repeatedly<\/a> denied<\/a> any interference.<\/p>\n

A day ago in a tell-all interview on Samaa TV<\/em> programme Nadeem Malik Live<\/em>, the JUI-F chief had elaborated on the events of the no-confidence vote, and said: \u201cThey (Gen Bajwa and Gen Faiz) were in contact with all political parties regarding the no-confidence motion and they told us the way of going about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGen Faiz had come to me and he asked me to go ahead [with the no-confidence vote], but only within the system, but not out of the system. Though I refused it,\u201d he had added.<\/p>\n

It must be mentioned that Gen (retd) Faiz was replaced<\/a> as the ISI director-general by Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum in October 2021, and posted as the Peshawar corps commander when the PTI government was ousted.<\/p>\n

Fazl\u2019s remarks had triggered a flurry in political circles, with his former allies in the PDM-led government as well as the PTI both passing comments on the allegations.<\/p>\n

Earlier today, a report<\/a> by The News<\/em> said that sources close to the former generals had \u201ccategorically denied\u201d Fazl\u2019s allegations. \u201cThe source, quoting Gen Bajwa, said the former army chief is willing to deny Maulana\u2019s statement under oath and expects the same from Maulana to get to the truth,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n

Questioned about the matter and the alleged responses from the generals in a fresh interview on GTV news<\/em> programme G for Gharidah<\/em>, Fazl acknowledged that \u201cit is correct to this extent that I mistakenly uttered Gen Faiz\u2019s name and he was not [involved in the no-confidence incident] \u2026 there is no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

He further said that he considered the former generals and \u201ctheir whole regime\u201d responsible for the alleged rigging in the 2018 general elections.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of further debate, this should be relegated to history.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said when the two generals were alerted about political, economic and defence instability during the PTI government, they began approaching politicians to \u201cstabilise the situation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Fazl said the establishment had always had a role in the country\u2019s politics \u2014 a practice he said should end.<\/p>\n

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