Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has claimed that PTI chairman Imran Khan did not want to appoint General Faiz Hameed as the army chief.

Two separate audio clips of Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad’s speech are doing the rounds on social media, with social media users contesting Sheikh Rashid’s claim.

One of these clips is of Sheikh Rasheed’s interview with Dawn News TV.

Dawn News reporter Abdullah Mohmand shared this clip in which Sheikh Rasheed is being asked if the perception is true that Imran Khan wanted to install General Faiz Hameed as the army chief and then set up a China-like one-party system.

Sheikh Rasheed says: “Absolutely not…. I’m ready to say under oath that it was not his (Imran Khan) plan. He did not want to appoint him (General Faiz Hameed).”

The reporter asks, “Appoint who?”

Sheikh Rashid replies: “Faiz.”

The reporter hits back: “Imran Khan didn’t want him (as army chief)?”

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed constantly shakes his head in the negative.

“Then who did he want appointed,” the reporter continues.

Sheikh Rashid says, “He is no longer in this world.”

The same conversation is in another clip which appears to have been taken by another person with their camera or mobile phone during the same interview.

In this clip, Sheikh Rasheed’s voice is much clearer and in response to the last question in the clip, he can be heard saying plainly, “He is no longer in this world.”

Sheikh Rasheed’s remark alluded to Balochistan Corps Commander General Sarfaraz Ahmed who was martyred in a helicopter crash.

This second clip of Sheikh Rasheed has been shared widely on social media by PTI workers and includes pictures of General Sarfraz.

However, doubts are being expressed on the claims of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Firstly, General Sarfaraz was 17th in seniority and in case of his appointment, a large number of generals would have been superseded. This does not usually happen.

Secondly, a negative campaign was launched on the social media dedicated to the martyrdom of General Sarfraz, which was blamed on PTI supporters.