‘Waade, tarle, minnaten,’ What did Gen Faiz do to become the next Army Chief?

The arrest of former spy master General (retd) Faiz Hameed came as a surprising development on Monday evening, taking most analysts by surprise. Geo’s Shahzeb Khanzada asked the Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, whether Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid sent messages to Mian Nawaz Sharif about his ambitions of becoming the army chief. In reply, Asif revealed, “He offered numerous assurances to Mian sb and was constantly sending messages in a bid to gain power.”

“I cannot even tell you what kind of promises and oaths he undertook to assure them [Nawaz Sharif] – all in the lust of power and ambition,” said Asif.

Asif lamented that when “people become blind in a bid to get power, it always ends badly,” referring to the detention of the former spymaster and court martial proceedings against him for misuse of authority.

“They [General Bajwa & General Faiz] resisted till the last moment when the government appointed General Asim Munir. General Bajwa presented many options for the next COAS while General Faiz was campaigning for himself. Bajwa had abandoned Faiz in the last days,” revealed the defence minister.

Khawaja Asif also stated that Faiz Hameed was involved in political events following his retirement in 2022.

“Knowing him a little bit, he never refrains from muddling the waters. Especially [in Faiz’s case] a person who has exercised unlimited power and he has to take the back seat,” he said.

“We can say he [Faiz] had the role of strategic adviser in the May 9 events. I can’t say that with certainty but the events and circumstances are pointing towards him,” he added.