Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years
Pakistan’s former ISI chief, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court.
The Field General Court Martial convicted him on four counts: engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act to harm state interests, misusing authority and resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals. Proceedings lasted over 15 months, starting in August 2024, and followed Pakistan Army Act protocols, with Hameed allowed to choose his defense counsel. He retains the right to appeal to Pakistan’s Supreme Court.
Hameed led the ISI from 2019 to 2021 under ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, with whom he had close ties, and retired after Khan’s 2022 ouster. His arrest in 2024 stemmed from a Supreme Court-ordered probe into the Top City housing scam near Islamabad, plus alleged roles in political unrest like May 2023 protests. This marks the first court-martial of a sitting or former ISI head.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called it punishment for “crossing the red line,” citing evidence from the Top City case. Hameed’s lawyer labeled the trial a “sham” due to lack of representation and plans an immediate appeal. The military emphasized full legal rights were provided.
