LONDON/ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Mohsin Habib Warraich, the trusted frontman of former Pakistani spy chief General Faiz Hameed, has fled Pakistan for London to evade an investigation into a military trial of the retired general by his own institution, The Thursday Times has learnt. The trial focuses on charges of corruption and misuse of power.
Warraich, the son of former Member of National Assembly (MNA) and Federal Minister of Defence Production Major (R) Habibullah Warraich, is a central figure in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scam, which involves over two billion Rupees. He previously lived in exile in London from 2010 until General Faiz orchestrated his return to Pakistan, guaranteeing his safety and protection from the government and legal authorities.
The Thursday Times has learned that Warraich was widely regarded as the closest associate of General Faiz, managing business deals for the retired general since 2014. Warraich relocated to Pakistan from London at Faiz’s request. The two became close in London while General Faiz, then a Brigadier, was attending the UK Royal Defence College for two years. Their trust grew rapidly, partly because Faiz’s father-in-law and Warraich’s father, Habibullah Warraich, were batch mates at the Kakul Military Academy.
Warraich quickly became General Faiz’s trusted confidant, handling various matters for him, including shopping and entertainment. Pakistani intelligence sources, as cited by The Thursday Times, have confirmed that Warraich reached London via Dubai and that they are eager to question him regarding a high-profile investigation into General Faiz. The former general is accused of abusing his power, including orchestrating a raid on a private property development business during his tenure as head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.
General Faiz led the ISI under Imran Khan’s administration from 2019 to 2021, before taking early retirement in December 2022. However, he remained extremely influential within the military’s intelligence wing after returning from London in late 2015, when he was appointed Director General of Counterintelligence (DGC) — responsible for intelligence affairs within Pakistan. During this period, he wielded enormous power, using it for personal gain and to benefit his close associates, particularly Warraich.
While General Faiz is now in custody along with several of his retired military associates, Warraich has been spotted in London, driving his convertible Rolls Royce with the personalized number plate W777 MOH. This is the same Rolls Royce that General Faiz and his family have used during their trips to London. Incidentally, all of Warraich’s vehicles in Pakistan and Dubai bear the same digits, and he frequently uses the number 7 on his official Facebook page. The number 777 represents his date of birth—January 7, 1977.
Warraich first fled to London in 2010, avoiding multiple court orders to return to Pakistan. However, he decided to come back after General Faiz manipulated the courts, including through managed judges like former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar. Upon his return to Pakistan, Warraich immediately assumed the role of General Faiz’s unofficial chief of staff.
During his time in Pakistan, Warraich enjoyed round-the-clock security, arranged by General Faiz and funded by the Pakistani taxpayer. He would often boast that the unmarked security vehicles escorting him were provided by General Faiz. A Pakistani intelligence source confirmed to The Thursday Times that Faiz used his influence to ensure Warraich received a clean slate.
In return, Warraich traveled the world on behalf of Faiz, acting as his de facto representative, negotiating and executing deals. He often introduced himself as an arms dealer working for the Pakistan Army, a claim he could substantiate through direct confirmation from Faiz. Warraich visited Russia on at least one occasion on Faiz’s behalf to secure a major arms deal. Faiz not only confirmed Warraich’s role as an official representative of the Pakistan Army but went above and beyond to support him in various ventures.
Faiz’s support extended beyond arms deals. In a separate incident involving the anti-Covid Sputnik vaccine, Warraich encountered resistance from the official dealer for the Sputnik vaccine based in Dubai, who had exclusive rights to sell the vaccine in Pakistan. Faiz intervened directly, informing the dealer that the only way the Sputnik vaccine would be sold in Pakistan was through Warraich. This forced the dealer to reluctantly negotiate with Warraich, who later secured a multimillion-dollar sale to the Pakistan Army. This deal is now a focal point in the investigation against Faiz, amid suspicions of massive commissions being earned by the former general. The vaccine sale was one of the biggest and most lucrative transactions Warraich executed, marking a significant financial windfall for both him and Faiz.
During Imran Khan’s government, while Faiz held significant power, it was Warraich who orchestrated their business dealings. However, Warraich’s influence was not limited to commercial transactions. Official sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have confirmed to The Thursday Times that Warraich had senior officials within the intelligence agencies directly call sitting High Court judges to pressure them into giving favorable decisions.
Warraich also masterminded a political move that, if successful, would have granted him and Faiz control over Punjab, the country’s most populous and wealthiest province. Several senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have confirmed that General Faiz lobbied to make Warraich’s father-in-law, Mohammad Nasir Khan, Punjab’s interim Chief Minister. Mohammad Nasir Khan, who served as the Federal Health Minister between 2002 and 2007, was proposed by PTI as the candidate for Punjab’s caretaker CM after Imran Khan received a call from General Faiz in early 2023, following the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly by Pervez Elahi. Pakistan’s military has evidence that General Faiz was lobbying for Nasir Khan post-retirement, despite being prohibited from meddling in political engineering.
Warraich’s wife, Beenish Khan (now Beenish Habib Warraich), the daughter of former Federal Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan, has also come under scrutiny in the UK due to Warraich’s involvement in the NICL case. When Warraich was under investigation during the NICL scandal, the Pakistan government requested information about him from the UK. As a result, Beenish was placed under surveillance by the UK’s Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), and her account at Barclays was subsequently closed. Known in Lahore, Dubai, and London circles for her extravagant lifestyle, Beenish is reputed for her collection of designer Hermes bags, luxury watches, and jewelry, as well as luxury vehicles, including Range Rovers, Mercedes, and BMWs. Notably, Warraich’s personal Rolls Royce in London (W777MOH) is registered in her name.
Thanks to the favors extended by General Faiz, Warraich now owns several assets around the world and is frequently seen in the most exclusive restaurants and private members’ clubs, particularly the Arts Club on Dover Street in London, as well as in Dubai. Intelligence agencies believe that General Faiz has a share in these assets, held under undisclosed ownership.
Before the publication of this article, Warraich was sent a list of detailed questions but did not respond to any of them directly, The Thursday Times can confirm.
