A book by author Shuja Nawaz, who has the famous ‘Crossed Swords’ to his name, has quoted former United States Ambassador Richard Olson as saying that in 2014, General (r) Zaheer-ul-Islam was planning to overthrow the government, but this was prevented by the then army chief.
The book, titled ‘The Battle For Pakistan, The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood’, has also quoted the former ambassador as saying that in 2014, rumours were doing the rounds that General (r) Zaheer-ul-Islam was supporting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s dharna against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
The book also quotes the ambassador as saying they had received information that ISI chief General (r) Zaheer was mobilising for a coup in September 2014. However, General (r) Raheel stopped this attempt on part of the ISI chief by removing him and announcing his successor.
Olson further says that General (r) Zaheer was in talks with corps commanders and talking to like-minded officers, and the coup would have happened had the army chief been willing, which he was not.
Shuja Nawaz’s book has been the source of much debate in political and military circles, not just because of the content of the book, but because of Shuja Nawaz’s claim that the book’s launch was allegedly stopped due to pressure from the state.