Journalists Hamid Mir and Hassan Ayub Khan have engaged in a public dispute over allegations concerning the treatment of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (Retired) Faiz Hameed, who is currently in military custody facing a Field General Court Martial.
On social media, Hassan Ayub Khan reported that Hamid Mir allegedly raised concerns about General Faiz Hameed’s torture during a discussion with a Western ambassador. Hassan expressed disbelief at these claims, asserting they were entirely false and unexpected from his brother. He also announced his intention to monitor Hamid Mir’s future media output closely.
In response, Hamid Mir took to X (formerly Twitter) to refute the claims made by Hassan Ayub’s sources. He asserted that no such meeting with an ambassador took place, nor did he raise any issues regarding torture. He subtly criticized the reliability of these sources, suggesting that the pressure to deny such allegations only makes them seem more credible. Mir’s tweet implied scepticism about the denials, hinting that the insistence on refutation might lend weight to the allegations.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Faiz Hameed’s ongoing legal proceedings. The ISPR has confirmed that a ‘Court of Inquiry’ was conducted following Supreme Court orders to investigate complaints about the Top City case involving the former military officer. The case and the surrounding allegations have drawn significant public and media attention, highlighting deep-seated issues within military and intelligence circles in Pakistan.
