Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt‑Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM), the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced on Thursday.
The proceedings, conducted under the Pakistan Army Act, began on 12 August 2024 and lasted 15 months. Hameed faced four charges: engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner deemed detrimental to state security, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals. ISPR said the court found him guilty on all counts after “lengthy and laborious legal proceedings”.
The FGCM, comprising senior military officers, complied with all legal provisions, ensuring Hameed was afforded full rights, including a defence team of his choice. The convicted officer retains the right to appeal in the relevant forum.
The military statement also indicated that Hameed’s “involvement in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements” is being investigated separately. Allegations linked him to political unrest, including the violent protests of 9 May 2023, which followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed Hameed had also been penalised in the Top City case, involving alleged extortion of a private housing society. Tarar described the verdict as a “historic” example of accountability, asserting that no one is above the law. He further alleged that Hameed had acted as a political adviser to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, conspiring against the state and spreading instability.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif commented on social media that the country would “reap the harvest of seeds sown by Faiz Hameed and former army chief Bajwa for years”.
Hameed, a retired three-star general of the Baloch Regiment, served as ISI director general from June 2019 to 2021 and held senior operational and intelligence roles throughout a three-decade military career.