Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years imprisonment

Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the Field General Court Martial.

“On August 12, 2024, process of Field General Court Martial was initiated against Mr. Faiz Hameed, formerly Lieutenant General under provisions of Pakistan Army Act spreading over 15 months,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

The accused was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the State, misuse of authority & government resources and causing wrongful loss to persons, the military’s media wing said.

It added that after lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, accused was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the Court which was promulgated on 11 December 2025.

The Field General Court Martial complied with all legal provisions, said the ISPR.

The ISPR said that the accused was afforded with all legal rights including rights of defence team of his choice.

“The convict has the right of appeal at relevant forum.

Top City case: Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed taken into military custody, says ISPR

“Involvement of convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements and in certain other matters is separately being dealt with.”

On August 13,2024, the ex-Peshawar Corps Commander was taken into military custody on charges of land grabbing and seizing valuables from the owner of a private housing society.

The ISPR had then said that a detailed court of inquiry was conducted by the Pakistan Army following orders from the Supreme Court to investigate complaints in the Top City Case against Hameed.

As a result, disciplinary action was initiated under the Pakistan Army Act.

Background

Lt Gen (retd) Hameed, who took premature retirement from service in December 2022, has been in the news for some time, often for controversial reasons. He was among the six senior generals whose names were included by GHQ in the list of potential candidates for the post of army chief in 2022.

Hameed was director general of the ISI from 2019 to 2021, and came into global spotlight when he was filmed drinking tea in the lobby of a Kabul hotel shortly after the Taliban had taken over Afghanistan following the pullout of U.S. and other Western forces in 2021.

Before retirement, Hameed was the commander of the Bahawalpur and Peshawar corps. He faced criticism from political parties for allegedly supporting Imran Khan’s previous government and victimising PTI’s political opposition.