In a historic ruling, Faiz Hameed, the former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court. The charges against him include violations of state secrets and political interference, marking a significant moment in the country’s military history.
Hameed, who led the ISI from 2019 until his early retirement in 2021, was a key ally of the now-incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan. His departure from the ISI followed Khan’s ousting in a no-confidence vote in 2022, a political shift that has since led to various controversies and unrest.
Charges and Court Proceedings
This conviction is particularly notable as it marks the first instance of an ISI chief being court-martialed. The military’s public relations wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced that the court martial proceedings, which spanned 15 months, commenced on August 12, 2024, according to the Pakistan Army Act. Hameed faced four significant charges: involvement in political activities, breaching the Official Secrets Act—including actions deemed detrimental to the state’s interests—misuse of authority and government resources, and actions causing harm to citizens.
The ISPR’s statement emphasized that Hameed was afforded the opportunity to choose his defense team, affirming his legal rights to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court of Pakistan. However, the specifics of the case remain undisclosed, as the hearings were conducted behind closed doors, maintaining the confidentiality of the proceedings.
Legal Response and Implications
Furthermore, the ISPR indicated that Hameed’s alleged role in instigating political unrest is being investigated separately. This is believed to relate to accusations of his involvement in the protests following Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023.
Hameed’s attorney, Mian Ali Ashfaq, asserted his client’s innocence, stating, “We were unaware of the judgement and only found out through the ISPR’s press release. We are now applying to the relevant forum for a copy of the decision.” He expressed optimism about the appeal process, stating, “As soon as we receive it, we will review it and immediately file a petition to appeal. Right now, the first forum for appeal is the army chief, so that is what we will do. We are hopeful that at the next forum we will present our case and obtain justice.”