The ruling coalition in Pakistan praises the arrest of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed in connection with a housing scheme scandal, while opposition parties, including former premier Imran Khan's PTI party, stay neutral. Hameed, who served as the director general of ISI during Khan's prime ministerial term, was accused of interfering in political matters. The Army has arrested him and initiated court martial proceedings for alleged misuse of authority. While the PTI party chairman calls it an "internal matter" for the disciplined institution of the Pakistani military, others, including members of the ruling PML-N and PPP, openly support the decision.
Pakistan's Ex-ISI Chief Arrested in Housing Scheme Scandal
In a significant development, the former Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, Lieutenant General (retd.) Faiz Hameed, has been arrested in connection with a housing scheme scandal. The arrest has sent shockwaves through Pakistan's political landscape.
Background
Faiz Hameed is a controversial figure in Pakistani politics. He served as the head of ISI from 2019 to 2021, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. He was accused of interfering in political matters and influencing the outcome of the 2018 general elections.
The Scandal
Hameed's arrest stems from allegations of his involvement in a housing scheme for army personnel. Investigators believe that he misused his authority to approve illegal allotments of land to private individuals at discounted rates. The scheme allegedly resulted in losses of billions of rupees to the government exchequer.
Reaction from Political Parties
The arrest of Hameed has elicited mixed reactions from Pakistan's political parties. The ruling coalition, which includes the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has welcomed the arrest, seeing it as a step towards holding the powerful accountable.
However, the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, has remained neutral on the issue. Khan has described it as an "internal matter" for the military.
Military Action
The Pakistan Army has confirmed Hameed's arrest and initiated court martial proceedings against him. The military has said that it will take strict action against any of its personnel found guilty of corruption or misuse of authority.
FAQs
1. Why was Faiz Hameed arrested? Hameed was arrested in connection with a housing scheme scandal involving illegal allotments of land to private individuals.
2. What is the alleged role of Hameed in the scandal? Hameed is accused of misusing his authority to approve illegal allotments during his tenure as ISI chief.
3. What is the political impact of Hameed's arrest? The arrest has sent shockwaves through Pakistan's political landscape, with the ruling coalition welcoming it and the opposition remaining neutral.
4. What is the military's position on Hameed's arrest? The military has confirmed Hameed's arrest and initiated court martial proceedings against him, indicating that it will take strict action against any wrongdoing.
5. What are the possible consequences for Hameed? If found guilty, Hameed could face severe consequences, including imprisonment and dismissal from the military.
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