Pakistan's Political Tensions Escalate with Ex-Spy Chief's Arrest

Pakistan’s former spy chief, Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, has been arrested, intensifying the pressure on jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The move could potentially lead to treason and mutiny charges against Khan, according to government officials and analysts.

Khan’s feud with the powerful military has been simmering since his ouster in 2022, which he claims was orchestrated by the generals.

The military denies any involvement, but the tension has led to the worst political turmoil in Pakistan’s history.

Hameed’s arrest is seen as a “political bombshell” that could implicate Khan in the May 9 violence, which the army chief views as mutiny and treason.

The charges carry a maximum punishment of death and would be tried in a military court, closed to the public.

Khan’s devoted following has already shown their outrage, vandalizing military installations across the country. Any further military action against him could result in more unrest, analysts warn.

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The government claims Hameed worked with Khan to plan the riots, while Khan denies any involvement.

The military has announced additional arrests of retired officers linked to Hameed, accusing them of “fomenting instability” in collusion with “vested political interests”.

As the drama unfolds, Khan’s trials have dominated local headlines, with limited media access to proceedings in jail.

The military’s secretive nature and lack of transparency in previous trials have raised concerns.

The stakes are high, with analysts believing the army is determined to eliminate Khan from the political scene, no matter the cost.

The question remains: will Pakistan’s political turmoil lead to further unrest, or can a resolution be found to calm the storm?

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