The Pakistan military announced that retired Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed was sentenced to 14 years by a Field General Court Martial after 15 months of proceedings under the Pakistan Army Act. He was convicted on four counts, including political activity and breach of the Official Secrets Act, and retains the right to appeal. Hameed — long reported as an ally of jailed ex‑prime minister Imran Khan — was detained in 2024 following a Supreme Court‑ordered probe into the Top City development. Analysts say the verdict sends a clear message that officers, active or retired, must avoid political involvement.
Pakistan Court‑Martials Ex‑ISI Chief Faiz Hameed, Hands Down 14‑Year Sentence
A military court in Islamabad on Thursday sentenced retired Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, the former director general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to 14 years in prison, the military announced. The verdict follows a 15-month court-martial under the Pakistan Army Act.
In an official statement, the military said the Field General Court Martial tried Hameed on four charges: engaging in political activities; violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner described as detrimental to state safety and interests; misuse of authority and government resources; and causing wrongful loss to individuals. The statement did not identify specific victims of the alleged losses.
The military described the proceedings as "lengthy and laborious," saying the court found Hameed guilty on all counts and that he had been afforded full rights of defense, including counsel of his choice. It also noted that Hameed retains the right to appeal the verdict to the appropriate forum.
Context And Reactions
Hameed has been widely reported as a close associate of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who has faced multiple convictions and is serving sentences after his 2023 arrest. Khan was removed in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and has publicly accused the military, the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the United States of plotting his ouster—claims denied by those parties.
Analyst: "The decision signals the military leadership’s intent that no officer, regardless of rank, will be allowed to engage in politics," said Syed Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst, describing the verdict as an example to retired officers.
Investigation And Detention
Hameed was detained in 2024 following an internal investigation ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court into allegations connected to the Top City housing project near Islamabad. Since his arrest, neither the military nor the government has publicly released detailed specifications of the charges.
The detention and prosecution of such a high-profile retired general surprised many in Pakistan, where the army wields significant influence and detentions of senior or former officers are uncommon. The timeline and forum for any appeal by Hameed were not disclosed in the military statement.
