In a significant revelation, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that Lt. Gen. (retired) Faiz Hameed, former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), remained involved in political activities even after his retirement. This statement comes just hours after the Pakistan Army announced the arrest of Hameed and the initiation of court martial proceedings against him over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing revealed that a detailed inquiry had been conducted against Hameed, in compliance with a Supreme Court order. The inquiry was prompted by a petition filed by Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City housing society, who accused the former ISI chief of misusing his office. According to the petition, under Hameed’s direction, crimes were committed against Khan and his family, including raids on their residence and business offices, arrests, and forced transfers of business properties.
Hameed, who served as ISI chief from June 2019 to October 2021, is known to have had close ties with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned on various charges he claims are politically motivated. The military’s media wing stated that multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement had been established against Hameed, without providing further details.
In an interview with a private news channel, Asif stated, “General Faiz was definitely involved in the events that took place in the political scene post his retirement. Knowing him a little bit, he couldn’t refrain from it, he had to muddle the waters.”
Hameed’s involvement in the political unrest following Imran Khan’s brief arrest on May 9, 2023, was also hinted at by the Defense Minister. Asif suggested that Hameed might have played a role as a “strategic adviser” during the riots, where Khan’s supporters attacked military and government installations, including the house of a senior military official in Lahore. The minister indicated that if these allegations were true, Hameed likely did not act alone and may have used his experience to coordinate the attacks.
This development is particularly noteworthy as investigations and legal actions against senior military officers are rare in Pakistan, a country where the military has wielded considerable influence throughout its history. Last month, another retired officer, Lt. Col. Akbar Hussain, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for “inciting sedition among army personnel,” highlighting the military’s ongoing efforts to address internal dissent.
The unfolding situation marks a critical moment in Pakistan’s civil-military relations, as the powerful military institution grapples with the implications of these unprecedented proceedings.
