Faiz Hameed responsible for Nawaz’s removal in 2017, says Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday claimed that retired Lt Gen Faiz Hameed was responsible for the 2017 removal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, saying more charges against him would be filed soon for broader accountability following Hameed’s conviction. 

Addressing reporters in Sialkot, Asif criticised Hameed’s role in Pakistan’s political landscape, accusing him of “conspiracy” that led to Nawaz Sharif’s removal and the subsequent rise of Imran Khan’s government. He stated that Hameed worked in close coordination with political figures to influence judicial and political results during that period. 

Asif said that Hameed’s actions, paired with some political allies, had “caused significant damage” to the country’s institutions and democratic process. 

The defence minister’s remarks come after Hameed was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Pakistani military court following a 15-month trial under the Pakistan Army Act on multiple charges including political activity and misuse of authority. 

Asif emphasized that decisions taken by Hameed and other senior figures would be felt across the country for years, and stated that additional legal proceedings against the former ISI chief are forthcoming.  

The defence minister’s comments reflect ongoing political tensions surrounding the role of security institutions in Pakistan’s electoral and judicial processes, particularly the controversial Supreme Court-led disqualification of Nawaz Sharif in 2017 and subsequent political shifts.