Former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has rejected the reports of him joining politics after retiring.
While talking to a private media publication, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed said he will never join politics. The former director general of the ISI said that all speculations about him joining politics or becoming part of PTI were totally false.
“I will not join politics after two-year bar nor afterward,” the former spymaster categorically said.
Read more: Video of Lt Faiz Hameed dancing with other officers goes viral
Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed attending a gathering in his native village in Chakwal where an unknown person, addressing the gathering, praised the retired general for his services in the military and for all he did for the development of the area.
The speaker also requested Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed to join politics and play his role in the development of the country. The video was widely shared on social media with speculations being made that Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed sought early retirement to join politics.
چکوال میں جنرل (ر ) فیض حمید کے گاوں لطیفال میں تقریب، تحریک انصاف کے رہنماوں نے جنرل فیض سے عملی سیاست میں آنے کا مطالبہ کر دیا، یہ بھی بتایا کہ دوران سروس جنرل فیض حمید نے اپنے علاقے میں ترقیاتی کاموں کے لیے فنڈز جاری کرائے ۔ #faizhameed #PTI pic.twitter.com/9omu2nFkHr
— MOHSIN NAWAZ (@ask_not_why) December 15, 2022
Lt (retd) Faiz Hameed’s retirement
Lt (retd) Faiz Hameed was among the top six officers nominated for the post of Chief of Army Staff and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. However, Lt. Gen Asim Munir was appointed the new COAS, and Lt. Gen Sahir Shamshad was made the CJCSC.
Shortly after, reports emerged that Lt (retd) Faiz Hameed had decided to take early retirement, which has been accepted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Lt Gen Azhar Abbas, whose name was also included in the list of six senior Army officers forwarded to PM House for top appointments, had also reportedly decided to take premature retirement from service.
Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who was currently serving as commander of the Bahawalpur Corps, was due to retire on April 30, 2023, while Lt-Gen Azhar Abbas was serving as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) at the moment and his retirement is due on April 27, 2023.
Read more: Lt Gen Faiz Hameed going for early retirement?