Maulana takes U-Turn after blaming Faiz Hameed

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman has retracted his previous statements implicating former army and intelligence officials in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The seasoned politician made these startling revelations in a bombshell interview but later clarified his stance.

Initially, Maulana Fazlur Rehman named former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Hameed, former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in connection with Imran Khan’s removal from office. However, he later admitted that he mistakenly took Faiz Hameed’s name during the interview with a local TV channel.

Addressing the controversy surrounding his remarks, Maulana Fazlur Rehman retracted his statements but maintained that both Gen (r) Bajwa and Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Hameed played roles in rigging the 2018 elections.

Despite acknowledging significant differences between JUI-F and Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized the importance of ending bitterness and fostering positive developments. He highlighted concerns about electoral integrity in Pakistan, suggesting that irregularities occur nationwide.

Following a meeting with top officials of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Maulana Fazlur Rehman disclosed that both sides discussed positive developments and addressed issues related to electoral rigging, including in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Meanwhile, former army chief General retired Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed have unequivocally rejected Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s allegations, stating that he should ensure accuracy before making such claims. They clarified that Gen Faiz Hameed had been transferred from his position as DG ISI months prior to the no-confidence vote against Imran Khan. Sources close to Gen Bajwa asserted that any meetings between him and Maulana Fazlur Rehman were not conducive, particularly during the latter’s long march against the PTI government.

Read more: PTI Decides to Sit in Opposition in Centre & Punjab

Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s retractions and the subsequent responses from former military officials have added complexity to the ongoing political discourse, underscoring the need for accuracy and transparency in public statements.