Several senior members of the federal cabinet have repeatedly maintained that there was an alleged nexus between former prime minister Imran Khan and former ISI director general Lieutenant General (Retired) Faiz Hameed in the backdrop of the violent events of May 9, 2023. However, Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, has so far not explicitly confirmed this claim in any official statement or press release.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and other government figures have referred to this alleged connection on various occasions, suggesting that the May 9 incidents were the result of coordinated planning. When questioned whether this stance was based on findings of any civil or military investigation or supported by documented evidence, government representatives avoided giving a direct answer and instead advised referring the matter to ISPR.
In an interview, the information minister stated that ISPR’s press release on the matter was “clear” and that cabinet members had spoken in that context. However, when it was pointed out that the ISPR statement did not explicitly mention Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or directly link the former premier to the May 9 violence, the minister failed to provide a specific reference or clarification.
ISPR’s recent press release announcing a 14-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for former ISI chief Lieutenant General (Retired) Faiz Hameed stated that court-martial proceedings under the Pakistan Army Act began on August 12, 2024, and continued for nearly 15 months. According to the statement, charges proven against him included involvement in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act, misuse of authority and state resources, and causing harm to individuals.
The military’s statement further emphasized that the Field General Court Martial proceedings were conducted strictly in accordance with legal requirements and that the convict retains the right to appeal. While the final portion of the release mentioned alleged collaboration with certain political elements to create political unrest and instability, it neither named Imran Khan nor referred to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, nor did it directly connect those actions to the May 9 incidents.
This lack of explicit linkage has highlighted a clear disconnect between the government’s political narrative and the military’s official position, raising questions about whether the alleged Imran–Faiz nexus behind the May 9 events is a genuine reality or merely a political assumption yet to be substantiated at the institutional level.
