‘Imran Khan wanted to retain Hameed to save his government’

Maryam Nawaz. Pic/AFP

Maryam Nawaz, vice president of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to prolong the tenure of former ISI chief Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed because he knew that "if the DG ISI was replaced, his government falls like a house of cards", The Express Tribune reported.

"Imran Khan used to blame Nawaz Sharif of locking horns with the state institutions; but when his turn came, attacking the institution of the armed forces is one thing, he in fact carries out a suicide attack on them (just to save one person)," Maryam told a rally.

She said that Khan was not taking a stand on principle but wanted to retain the spymaster to save his own government, the report said. Maryam not only harangued Khan throughout her address, but also dedicated a good part of her speech to take a dig at Lt-Gen Hameed also.

She said that Khan, by saving his "godfather", was also making a mockery of the institution of the armed forces. "Imran Khan wants to a save the person, who was stealing elections and ballot boxes for him; who was oppressing his opponents; blackmailing judges to get favourable decisions; abducting journalists; and pulling the plug on (TV) channels," she added.

Issues related to ISI chief will be resolved: Ahmed

The issues concerning the appointment of the new Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief will be resolved by Friday, Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has said. This comes as reports of the impasse between the civil and military leadership over the appointment of ISI chief has refused to die down.

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