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Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a Pakistan military court. Accused of political meddling and violating the Official Secrets Act, what does this verdict mean for Pakistan’s powerful intelligence and political circles?
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Islamabad: A Pakistan military court on Thursday sentenced former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed to 14 years in prison for multiple charges, including engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act, according to the Associated Press.
The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) found Hameed guilty on four counts:
Engaging in political activities
Violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner detrimental to state safety
Misusing authority and government resources
Causing wrongful financial loss to individuals
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“The accused was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act detrimental to the safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals,” the court said in an official statement, according to AP.
The military court described the trial as “lengthy and laborious” before arriving at the verdict.
Hameed, who headed the ISI from 2019 to 2021, was considered one of the most powerful figures in Pakistan’s security establishment during his tenure. He was viewed as close to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since 2023 on multiple charges.
Hameed was appointed ISI chief after the removal of then-chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, now the current Army chief. His role as head of the ISI gave him significant influence over Pakistan’s intelligence and political landscape.
Hameed was detained last year following an internal probe ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court into allegations linked to the Top City project scam. The project involved land development near Islamabad for a private housing scheme.
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Though the military has not released further details, the conviction underscores the tightening scrutiny on Pakistan’s former top intelligence and political figures.
The sentencing of Faiz Hameed, a former ISI chief, marks a rare and high-profile move by Pakistan’s military judicial system against one of its own former top officials. The verdict may have political implications ahead of national power dynamics, given Hameed’s prior association with Imran Khan.
