Zardari’s Warning to ISI Chief: “Time Changes Quickly” – Hamid Mir’s Column Reveals

Lahore: Senior journalist Hamid Mir has revealed in his column that former President Asif Ali Zardari, who was arrested in 2020 during Imran Khan’s tenure, once told the then DG of ISI, General Faiz Hameed, that “time changes quickly.” Zardari cautioned Hameed, saying, “It won’t take long for circumstances to change, and a time may come when a file seeking your pardon will land on my desk.”
According to Mir, Zardari had spent more than 13 years in jail, with his most recent arrest occurring in 2020 under the rule of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. At the time, Zardari expressed his thoughts on how quickly power dynamics could shift.
Mir also mentioned that General Faiz Hameed had planned to serve as Army Chief for another ten to fifteen years but failed to anticipate the changing tides of power. “Maybe now he has a better understanding,” Mir added.
The column further highlighted the political turbulence in Pakistan, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also arrested in 2020, while other prominent political figures like Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Hanif Abbasi, and others had spent time in jail as well.
Mir reflected on the arrest and disqualification of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1999 during Nawaz Sharif’s government and also the later sentencing of Nawaz Sharif in 2018. He noted that despite their arrests, no protest movements succeeded in securing their releases. Even now, former Prime Minister Imran Khan remains incarcerated, with no successful protest against his detention.
In conclusion, Mir stated, “These leaders, whether it was under General Zia-ul-Haq or General Pervez Musharraf, were not more powerful. Dictators too face consequences for their actions. Unfortunately, no one seems to have learned from their mistakes. All are trapped in a vicious cycle. The lesson is clear: time changes quickly, and those who sow injustice will reap it.”
The piece serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of political power in Pakistan, with leaders often facing both triumphs and humiliations, depending on the changing tides.