Imran fears Faiz will be forced to turn against him

 PTI leader claims ex-ISI chief under pressure to turn approver against him over May 9 violence

• IHC stops accountability court from announcing verdict in £190m corruption case

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday claimed that ex-spymaster Faiz Hameed, who was detained earlier this month in connection with a housing scheme scam, was being forced to turn approver against him to pave the way for his (Imran’s) trial in a military court in May 9 cases.

In a separate development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained an accountability court in the capital from announcing the judgement in the £190 million corruption case against PTI leader Imran Khan and his spouse which revolves around the Al Qadir Trust.

Speaking to media persons in Adiala jail after he was sent on judicial rem­and in a new Toshakhana reference, the PTI chief said there was no substance in the cases against him in civil courts, claiming that the ex-ISI chief was arrested allegedly in order to implicate him. He claimed that Gen Faiz was being forced to become approver against him and hinted that the ex-spymaster might be asked to implicate him in the May 9 incidents.

According to Mr Khan, he was not concerned even if Gen Faiz testified against him, as the culprits involved in the May 9 violence can be traced through CCTV footage. He said he had repeatedly sought a judicial probe into the violence, adding that had he been involved in these riots he wouldn’t have made such a demand.

The PTI leader said the incumbent regime was scared that its “theft of the public mandate” would be exposed after the retirement of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. The ex-PM also dismissed claims attributed to Gen Faiz that he had been taking instructions from his wife Bushra Bibi.

Imran Khan reiterated his allegations against former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, accusing the latter of bet­raying him. He added that Gen Faiz was transferred from the ISI under an all­e­ged deal between the then army chief and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

£190m corruption case

Separately, an IHC division comprising Justice Mia­n­gul Hassan Auran­gzeb and Justice Babar Sattar stopped an accountability court from annou­ncing the verdict in the £190 million corruption case, but allowed it to continue day-to-day proceedings.

The bench, after a preliminary hearing of the petition of Imran Khan seeking the record related to the case, issued the restraining order and asked the Natio­nal Accountability Bur­eau (NAB) to submit a reply.