Defense Minister Khawaja Asif Accuses Retired General Faiz Hameed of Involvement in May 9 Attacks, Suggests Joint Trial with Imran Khan

Islamabad:Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has alleged that General (Retd) Faiz Hameed was involved in the violent events of May 9, 2023, which he claims primarily benefited former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khawaja Asif further speculated that Imran Khan could face trial alongside Faiz Hameed, asserting that there is a strong possibility the two would be tried together due to their alleged roles in the incident.

In an interview with a private TV channel, Khawaja Asif stated, “The indictment against General (R) Faiz Hameed is based on solid evidence. He was involved in the May 9 attacks, and the real beneficiary of May 9 was Imran Khan.” The Minister added that the evidence was clear, and it is highly probable that both Faiz Hameed and Imran Khan will face a joint trial.

### **Accusations Against Imran Khan and Faiz Hameed**
Khawaja Asif pointed out that Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has not condemned the May 9 attacks despite the severity of the incident. The Defense Minister claimed that Faiz Hameed, who was a key figure during the PTI government, played a major role in the arrests and crackdowns that took place under Imran Khan’s leadership.

“Imran Khan knows Faiz Hameed better than anyone. The arrests made during the PTI era were largely due to his involvement,” he said. The Minister further accused Faiz Hameed of being deeply involved in several political protests, including the Faizabad sit-in and other anti-government movements.

### **From Faizabad Sit-in to May 9**
Khawaja Asif highlighted the historical context behind the May 9 attacks, suggesting that they were part of a larger pattern of political unrest orchestrated during the PTI government. He specifically pointed to the Faizabad sit-in of 2017, which was led by PTI and its allies, and claimed that General Faiz Hameed was instrumental in managing these protests.

“General Faiz Hameed considered himself the final authority during protests against the government. This continued until Imran Khan’s government came to power. Even in the controversial 2018 elections, the RTS (Result Transmission System) failure, in which he was allegedly involved, led to significant political chaos,” Khawaja Asif added.

### **Joint Trial Likely**
Khawaja Asif reaffirmed that he believed a joint trial for both Faiz Hameed and Imran Khan was highly likely, citing the ongoing investigation into their alleged roles in the events of May 9. “It is absolutely clear that both will face trial together,” he said.

The Minister concluded by criticizing Imran Khan for not publicly condemning the attacks on May 9, despite the severity of the damage caused. He also underscored that Faiz Hameed’s deep involvement in the political affairs of the PTI era was undeniable, and his actions led to significant political repercussions that are now being investigated.