Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Sentenced to 14 Years by Pakistan Military Court

Islamabad- Pakistan’s former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after being convicted on multiple charges by a military court, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday, according to local media reports.

The Field General Court Martial began proceedings against Hameed on August 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act. The trial continued for 15 months before concluding with the verdict, The Express Tribune reported.

According to the ISPR statement, Hameed faced four major charges:
• engaging in political activities;
• violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner “detrimental to the safety and interest of the state”;
• misuse of authority and government resources;
• causing losses to individuals.

The military court found him guilty on all counts following what ISPR described as “lengthy and laborious legal proceedings.” His sentence was formally implemented on December 11.

ISPR stated that all legal procedures were followed, and Hameed was granted full rights, including the ability to appoint a defence team of his choice. He will have the option to appeal the verdict before the appropriate authority.

The press release also noted that Hameed’s alleged involvement in “fomenting vested political agitation and instability in coordination with political elements” is being addressed separately.

The statement highlighted that his actions were deemed violations of military discipline, misuse of official authority, and behaviour harmful to state interests, though it did not provide details on the separate matters referenced by ISPR.

Faiz Hameed is a retired three-star general from the Pakistan Army’s Baloch Regiment. He served as ISI chief from 2019 to 2021 and previously commanded the Peshawar and Bahawalpur corps. Over his three-decade military career, he held several key intelligence and operational leadership positions.

With inputs from IANS