Sialkot, December 13,2025: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday held former spymaster Faiz Hameed responsible for the ouster of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017, alleging that further charges against him would be brought in the coming days.
The minister’s remarks came two days after Hameed was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted on four counts related to violations of secrecy laws, political involvement, misuse of authority and causing harm to others — the first such conviction of a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Addressing a press conference in Sialkot, Asif said the trial against the former ISI chief had lasted 15 months and that additional legal proceedings would soon be initiated. “A former head of ISI has been convicted after a 15-month trial. There are still other charges on which proceedings will be launched,” he said.
The defence minister alleged that Nawaz Sharif was removed through a “conspiracy” orchestrated under Hameed’s supervision. “The removal of Nawaz, the cases against him, the allegations and Imran Khan’s rise to power — this entire project was carried out under the supervision of Faiz Hameed,” he claimed.
Asif said Hameed and his “partner” Imran Khan were responsible for causing “significant damage” to the country, alleging that the former spymaster was in charge of what he termed “Project Imran”, particularly during the 2018 general elections.
“Faiz was the most important part of that government,” he said, alleging that during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tenure, political opponents were threatened and imprisoned with Hameed’s facilitation. He claimed Imran Khan was the main beneficiary of the former spymaster’s actions.
The minister described the period as a “shameful chapter” in Pakistan’s history, alleging that cases against Nawaz Sharif, his exile, and the imprisonment of his family members, party leaders and workers were all orchestrated by Hameed.
He further claimed that during Hameed’s tenure, state institutions dictated legislation to parliament. “Decisions about the country’s future were being made in the backyard of the prime minister’s house,” he said.
Asif said that after Hameed’s transfer, his alleged “project” began to unravel, but claimed that he continued to facilitate Imran Khan even after being posted as a corps commander.
The defence minister also accused Hameed of involvement in the violent riots of May 9, 2023, claiming the unrest was a “joint venture”. He briefly corrected himself for referring to Hameed as a general, saying the former officer’s rank had been revoked only days earlier.
He alleged that those currently attempting to bring Imran Khan back to power were following a path laid by Hameed, insisting the two could not be separated.
Calling the May 9 riots an attack on the sanctity of the armed forces, Asif contrasted them with what he termed the military’s successful operation “Bunyan ul Marsoos” against India in May, which he said had brought international recognition to Pakistan.
In concluding remarks, the defence minister vowed to continue what he called the process of accountability. “Those who have put the country’s future at stake for personal power cannot be considered Pakistanis, whether they wore a uniform like Faiz or a waistcoat and Peshawari sandals like Imran,” he said.
