This investigative report is based on the intel Report of the 786 Intelligence Battalion, a group of dissidents within the Pakistani Military
Subject: Profiles of Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak (PA-37643) & Colonel Shehzad Raza (PA-37693), Posted as Director and Deputy Director IO (information operations) Division at ISPR Directorate, GHQ
1. Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak (PA-37643)
A photograph of (PA-37643) Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak, taken during his tenure as a Major while attending Command and Staff College in Quetta. The images of his family have been intentionally concealed.
Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak, a graduate of the Military College Jhelum (MCJ), currently serves as the Director of the Information Operations (IO) Division at ISPR Directorate, GHQ, under VCGS (B) and CGS. Commissioned in 1999 through the Technical Graduate Course-9 from PMA Kakul, he began his military career with 50 Signals Battalion under 11 Corps.
Known for his close ties to Lt Gen Awais Dastagir and Lt Gen Babar Sarfraz, Brig Khattak has held influential positions, including postings in Saudi Arabia and as GSO-2 in the MO Directorate’s IO Division. Despite his Pashtun heritage, he is criticized for his lack of empathy toward his community and for promoting anti-Pashtun narratives during his tenure.
Brig Khattak’s controversial activities extend beyond his official duties. He has a reputation for being opportunistic, materialistic, and self-serving. Allegations include misuse of Command Funds, leveraging official resources for personal travel (frequently to the U.S. and other Western countries), and engaging in extramarital relationships. During his tenure as a captain, he was accused of smuggling weapons into Pakistan and engaging in an affair with an American woman, resulting in an abortion. Despite complaints lodged by U.S. authorities, no action was taken against him.
At ISPR, Brig Khattak oversees a team of young female internees, allegedly managed by his deputy, Col Shehzad Raza. These women, part of the Army Agahi Network (AGN), are reportedly used to craft and disseminate narratives targeting freedom fighters and opposition figures, including Maj Adil Raja, Capt Haider Mehdi, and Col Syed Akbar Hussein.
2. Colonel Shehzad Raza (PA-37693)
Photograph of (PA-37693) Colonel Shehzad Raza
Colonel Shehzad Raza, serving as the Deputy Director of the IO Division at ISPR under Brig Khattak, is a highly controversial figure. He is reportedly linked to Irum Munir, the wife of COAS Gen Asim Munir, and is accused of exploiting these connections for personal and political influence. Known for his sectarian fanaticism, Col Raza is also accused of indulging in immoral activities, including womanizing and facilitating illicit activities for senior officers.
During his tenure with FC Balochistan as Colonel Coordination, he allegedly amassed wealth through narcotics and oil smuggling, purchasing a house in Chaklala Scheme-3 for his wife, Nadia Batool. Nadia Batool is reportedly connected to Irum Munir, further solidifying Col Raza’s influence within the military hierarchy.
Role in the Islamabad Massacre (2024)
— Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) December 18, 2024
Both Brig Khattak and Col Raza played critical roles in the events surrounding the Islamabad Massacre on 26th November 2024. They were central figures in planning and overseeing operations from the MO (Military Operations) Directorate, including the use of electronic warfare jammers to block mobile signals. Reports suggest that they coordinated with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, crafting narratives and instructing him on specific language, such as “firing at unarmed PTI protestors for five minutes.”
— Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) December 21, 2024
Sources within the CGS Secretariat, ISPR, GHQ’s 408 Intelligence Battalion, and 301 Corps Intelligence Battalion (10 Corps) have revealed that all media briefings delivered by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Atta Tarar, and IGP Islamabad Ali prior to the #IslamabadMassacre on 26 November 2024 were meticulously prepared and vetted by DG ISPR, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif, and his team. This included Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak (Signals), Director IO Division, and his course mate, Col. Shehzad Raza, Deputy Director IO Division, ISPR.
Every sentence of these briefings was scrutinized and approved by the aforementioned officials. Col. Shehzad Raza, reportedly close to COAS Gen. Asim Munir due to their shared Shia background, conveyed these prepared statements to Mohsin Naqvi and others involved.
The entire operation relied on the Pak Army’s DEFCOMMS LTE-enabled smartphones, which were issued to Mohsin Naqvi and other key officials to ensure secure communication with the COAS, DG ISPR, Director IO Division, and Deputy Director IO Division.
Planned Messaging and Propaganda
It has also emerged that the use of specific phrases, such as “deployment of LMGs and firing for 5 minutes at the innocent participants of the PTI rally,” included in Mohsin Naqvi’s briefing, was deliberately crafted and spoon-fed by Col. Shehzad Raza. The purpose of this language was reportedly to instill fear and terror among the peaceful, unarmed protestors, painting them as victims of deliberate military aggression.
Additionally, sources disclosed that, scared to speak himself, DGISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif had initially proposed that Brig. Waheed Abid Khattak conduct the media briefings following the Islamabad Massacre. However, this proposal was rejected by both the Chief of General Staff (CGS) and the Vice Chief of General Staff (B) [VCGS(B)].
Role in Gross Human Rights Violations
Brig Khattak and Col Raza are also accused of orchestrating the disappearance of dead bodies post-massacre to manage media narratives. Their actions have drawn widespread condemnation for their alleged role in human rights violations.
Several other officers willingly participated in the Islamabad Massacre, including Brigadier Asad Ullah Dogar (27 Baloch Regiment, PMA 98 Long Course), the commander of the infamous 111 Brigade, and Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar, Commander of the Army Light Radio Group. Brigadier Dogar was the first to issue the order to open fire, directly commanding the troops involved in the massacre. Meanwhile, Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar deployed electronic warfare jammers to block mobile signals and took control of all cellular phone towers in the area. This effectively prevented media coverage of the #IslamabadMassacre.
Photograph of PA-37652 Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar
Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar disrupted communications by deploying jammers, which led to Mohsin Naqvi being provided with DEFCOMM-enabled LTE smartphones for secure communication. The jammers also ensured blocking all broadcasts signals at the massacre sight Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar played a central role in executing this operation.
Call for Accountability
The actions of Brigadier Waheed Abid Khattak and Colonel Shehzad Raza represent a deeper issue within the Pakistan Army, where positions are allegedly exploited for personal and political gain. Their involvement in the Islamabad Massacre and other unethical activities has severely tarnished Pakistan’s reputation on the global stage.
The global bodies are urged to take the following actions:
- Add the names of Brig Waheed Abid Khattak, Brigadier Asad Ullah Dogar, Brigadier Faisal Mukhtar and Col Shehzad Raza to the visa ban list.
- Impose sanctions against them for their involvement in human rights violations.
- Include their names in the list of military personnel responsible for the Islamabad Massacre-2024.
Additionally, their actions should be thoroughly investigated by the GHQ AG Branch, and a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) should be conducted under a civilian government to ensure justice and accountability. It is imperative for Pakistan’s military and political systems to rid themselves of such individuals, who undermine the nation’s integrity and values.
