Who is Faiz Hameed? Ex-ISI Chief Faces Historic Court-Martial for Abuse of Power

He was appointed Commander of the Baloch Regiment and held several important posts during his military career, including Overall Commander of the 16th Infantry Division and Commander of the 31st Corps.

Military career and controversy

Many important events took place during Hamid’s tenure as ISI chief, including a visit to Kabul shortly after the Taliban took power in August 2021, during which he promised that “everything will be fine” with the situation in Afghanistan. His government has faced allegations of political interference and judicial manipulation, particularly in the Nawaz Sharif case involving the Panama Papers.

Power struggles within the government and the military led to Hamid’s early resignation in late 2022, particularly over the nomination of his successor, Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum. Reports said the disagreement strained his relationship with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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In August 2024, the Pakistan Army filed a case in a military court against Hamid, who is currently being held in military detention. The action was in response to a Supreme Court order accusing him of abuse of power in the “Top City” housing project case. In the case, he was accused of planning illegal attacks and blackmailing the owners of the project. The military has proven that after retirement, he violated the Pakistan Army Act several times, which led to his detention and the start of disciplinary proceedings.

This is the first time a former ISI chief has been tried by a military court, so the incident represents a turning point in Pakistan’s military history. Although Khan’s party chose to remain neutral and described the matter as an internal military affair, the ruling coalition generally supports the military’s actions.

Pakistan’s former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hamid has been arrested and is facing a military court for his alleged involvement in a housing scandal related to a private housing project called Top City. This is the first time in history that a former intelligence chief of Pakistan has been tried by a military court.

Reasons for a military court trial

  1. Abuse of power allegations: Hamid is accused of masterminding a raid on the office and residence of Top City owner Moeez Khan, during which valuables were allegedly seized. The incident reportedly took place in May 2017 under the pretext of a terrorism investigation.
  2. Supreme Court intervenes: Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered a detailed investigation into Hamid’s allegations in November 2023, saying they were “extremely serious in nature” and could damage the reputation of state institutions if proven true. The military has since set up an investigation committee to look into the allegations.
  3. Violations of Pakistan Army Law: The military statement pointed out that Hamid had violated Pakistan Army Law several times after his retirement. These included alleged corruption and abuse of power during his service.
  4. Further investigations: In March 2023, former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed that investigations were underway into alleged corruption cases against Hamid and his brother Najaf Hamid. Najaf was later detained in connection with these investigations.

The launch of a military tribunal against Hamid reflects a major development in Pakistan’s military and judicial systems, highlighting the scrutiny faced by former senior officials.