Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has stated that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, should face trial if he is found to have committed any wrongdoing.

His comments came in response to the recent arrest of the retired general by the military over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the owner of a private housing society.

The arrest, which was carried out in accordance with the orders of the Supreme Court, was announced by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) a day earlier. “A detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by the Pakistan Army to ascertain the correctness of complaints in the Top City Case made against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid,” read the ISPR’s statement.

In an interview with Geo News on Tuesday, Gandapur remarked that the arrest is a matter of the army’s internal affairs, and his party has refrained from commenting on such issues. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring “transparency of trial” for everyone involved.

Gandapur also addressed reports suggesting that Faiz Hamid had victimized someone while still in his official position. He urged the court to summon him to testify about “what he was being pressurised to say” while in custody before the violent protests of May 9.

Commenting on the arrest, Independent Senator Faisal Vawada and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah both linked the former spymaster with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the incidents of May 9.

Vawada told Geo News that the arrest could lead to the resolution of issues surrounding the May 9 events, which were marked by violent protests following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan at the Islamabad High Court last year.

The May 9 protests saw government buildings and military installations, including Rawalpindi’s General Headquarters (GHQ) and Lahore Corps Commander’s House, vandalized by mobs. While the former ruling party has distanced itself from the violence, Imran Khan recently expressed his willingness to apologize if PTI activists were found to be involved.

Gandapur also claimed that the chaos that erupted on May 9 was pre-planned, stating, “Being an eyewitness, I can tell the court about what the plan was and what steps were taken ahead of May 9.”