Rawalpindi: Inter-Services Intelligence Chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum joined Inter-Services Public Relations DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar to speak about journalist Arshad Sharif’s killing and ex-premier Imran Khan’s confrontational narrative against military, alongwith other related topics yesterday. In Pakistan’s history, for the very first time head of country’s spy agency has directly addressed media.

At outset of press conference, Gen Iftikhar said purpose of today’s media talk was to shed light on killing of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and circumstances surrounding it. Besides, it is necessary to determine factors due to which a particular narrative is being built and people are being misled, he said. “Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was also targeted and faced criticism.

An attempt was made to create a divide in society.”  Gen Iftikhar said that Sharif’s popularity was based on being an investigative journalist and when cypher which PTI Chief Imran Khan has touted as evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust his government surfaced, he conducted several programmes on issue.

He held several meetings with former premier and interviewed him, DG ISPR said. Talking about cypher, Gen Iftikhar said that Army Chief discussed it with Imran on March 11 when latter had termed it to be “not a big thing”. “It was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality.”

 ISPR informed National Security Committee that no proof was found regarding conspiracy against PTI government, he said, adding that Inter-Services Intelligence also did not find any evidence regarding conspiracy. Gen Iftikhar stated “Word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse. To all this baseless narrative, Army Chief and institution showed restraint and we tried our level best that politicians’ sit together to resolve their issues.”  “Arshad remained in UAE until he had a valid visa. He left for Kenya when his visa for Dubai expired.”

He said that no one “forced” Sharif to leave Dubai at a government level and questioned who exactly forced him to leave.  ISI Chief told press “I am aware that you are surprised by my presence,” and added that he had appeared for his institution and officers who were sacrificing their lives. “As chief of this agency, I cannot remain silent when they are targeted for no reason..” He said that words like “neutral and janwar” were meant to illustrate that institution was indulging in sedition. He added that these words were also being used because institution refused to bend to an “unconstitutional and illegal act”.

Lt Gen Anjum also made revelation that in March, Gen Bajwa was given a “lucrative offer” for an extension in his tenure. “It was made in front of me. He rejected it because he wanted institution to move forward from a controversial role to a constitutional role.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 28 2022

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