Lt-Gen (retd) Zaheerul Islam, former director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Sunday said supporting former premier and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan was need of the hour.
He held a ceremony for Shabbir Awan, who is contesting by-election from PP-7 (Rawalpindi) as the PTI candidate, at his native town in Kahota area Sunday. The former ISI chief not only announced support to the PTI candidate but also promised running his election campaign.
It’s very ENCOURAGING that Ex-DG ISI has joined the convoy of PTI. Such type of Expertise is the need of PTI to cope with the current circumstances. we hope this addition will Reduce the Intensity of Neutrals and their tactics to stop Khan from becoming PM again.
There are strong “rumours” that Imran Khan has selected the ex- ISI boss as a PTI candidate for the next general elections. The PTI leaders have been denying the speculation, but Islam was seen campaigning for a PTI candidate in a by-election in Rawalpindi for the Pakistani National Assembly.
“The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan is the need of the hour,” Islam said, praising Imran Khan during campaigns.
Like former ISI chief Lt General Faiz Hameed, his predecessor Islam too was attached with Imran Khan to help him to come to power. We know how Ayub Khan sold Pakistan’s sovereignty to the United States and allowed it to build an airbase in Peshawar. From that day until today, this country has been under the control of the United States,” said Brigadier (Rtd) and security analyst, Mian Mahmood.
Unlike Faiz Hameed, Islam remained mostly out of the spotlight and yet, he managed to cast a shadow over many major events especially during his tenure as the ISI chief between 2012-2014. Prior to this, he was the Director General of Counter Terrorism Wing and was assigned to the “Project Imran Khan” by the establishment. This was the time when the then ISI chief General Shuja Pasha, Islam and Faiz Hameed became close to Imran Khan.
