By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A military court has sentenced Faiz Hameed, the former head of the country’s powerful intelligence agency, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty of political interference, violating secrecy laws and misusing his authority, the army’s public relations wing said on Thursday.
The verdict, promulgated on Dec. 11, 2025, marks a rare instance of accountability for a high-ranking military figure in Pakistan, where the armed forces have long held significant sway over politics and governance. Hameed, a retired lieutenant general who led the Inter-Services Intelligence agency from 2019 to 2021, is the first former ISI chief to face a court-martial, indictment and sentencing.
The proceedings against Hameed began on Aug. 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act, following allegations that he orchestrated raids on a private housing development, extorted money and coerced business transfers from its owner, Moeez Ahmed Khan of Top City near Islamabad. The military said the case also uncovered broader violations after his retirement in December 2022.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations, said Hameed was tried on four charges: engaging in political activities, breaching the Official Secrets Act in ways detrimental to state security, abusing authority and government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals. “After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the accused has been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment,” the statement said.
The military emphasised that the Field General Court Martial adhered to all legal protocols and that Hameed was granted full rights, including the ability to select his own defence team. He retains the option to appeal within 40 days to a court consisting of the chief of army staff or designated officers, as outlined in Section 133B of the Army Act.
Separately, the ISPR noted that Hameed’s alleged role in “fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements” is being handled in ongoing investigations. This includes scrutiny of events tied to violent protests on May 9, 2023, when supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan vandalised military installations after his arrest on corruption charges. The military has previously linked those clashes to efforts “at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests.”
Hameed’s arrest in August 2024 shattered the notion that intelligence chiefs were beyond reproach in a nation where generals have ruled directly for nearly half its independent history. Three other retired officers were also detained in connection with the Top City case, which prompted a Supreme Court-ordered inquiry.
The sentencing drew swift reactions from government officials, who hailed it as a milestone for justice and accountability. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, in statements to the media called the decision “historic” and a “landmark” that bolsters the rule of law. He said the trial, which spanned 15 months, involved the presentation of evidence and witness statements, ensuring Hameed had ample opportunity to defend himself. “Today, the person who crossed the red line has been punished,” Tarar said, adding that the former general had misused his position in the Top City matter and acted as a “political adviser” to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party despite post-retirement restrictions on political involvement. “He gave the party [his] full support,” Tarar said, alleging that Hameed “conspired against the country and spread anarchy to a great extent.”
He confirmed that further probes into political interference, including links beyond the May 9 events, are underway. “Yes, definitely,” he said when asked about additional actions. “It’s not hidden that he was advising PTI and trying to weaken the state’s writ.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a post on the social media platform X, warned of lasting repercussions from Hameed’s actions and those of former army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. “The nation will reap the harvest of seeds sown by Faiz Hameed sahib and Bajwa for years,” he wrote. “May God forgive us. May those in power recognise that authority is a divine trust and use it for the welfare of His creation. May the fear of God guide the rulers. Ameen.”
Senator Faisal Vawda, a pro-military lawmaker, described the conviction as “just the beginning,” signaling progress on May 9 cases next. He said it establishes a foundation for accountability, stressing that “no one is bigger than Pakistan” and that Hameed had harmed the country, its institutions, politics and judiciary through abuse of power. “If a former senior army officer can be tried in the May 9 cases, you can imagine the fate of the real perpetrators,” Vawda said.
Hameed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, told reporters that the defence team learned of the verdict through media reports rather than official channels. “We do not know whether the verdict was announced in court or not,” he said. “The first thing we will do is apply to obtain a copy of the verdict, and after that, we will file an appeal against the decision in the appropriate forum.”
Hameed rose to prominence in 2017 when he brokered a deal to end a 21-day sit-in by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan at Faizabad, with the agreement noting it was inked “via Major General Faiz Hamid.” Promoted to lieutenant general, he became ISI director general in 2019 under Khan, who had formed the government after his party’s victory in the 2018 elections. His tenure drew accusations of political meddling, including influencing court proceedings, as alleged by a former Islamabad High Court judge, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who claimed Hameed formed benches to extend the detention of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.
Sharif, in public speeches, blamed Hameed for his ouster and the targeting of political rivals. In August 2021, a photo of Hameed sipping tea at a Kabul hotel, weeks after the Taliban’s return to power, sparked criticism. The visit was officially to discuss evacuations, border security and regional stability with Taliban representatives. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has accused Hameed of aiding Sharif’s 2017 disqualification through court cases. During Khan’s government, he was said to have helped pass key legislation. The Supreme Court’s verdict on the Faizabad sit-in ordered action against involved officers, fueling scrutiny of Hameed’s “political role.”
Khan, imprisoned since August 2023 on charges he calls fabricated, has denied inciting the May 9 violence. Hameed was seen as an ally to Khan during and after his premiership, which ended in a 2022 no-confidence vote.
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