Pakistan’s former intelligence chief, Lt Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after a military court found him guilty of violating state secrecy laws, abusing his authority and engaging in political interference. The rare conviction marks the first time a former head of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been court-martialled.
Hameed served as ISI director-general from 2019 to 2021 during the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, with whom he was widely believed to be closely aligned. He retired shortly after Khan was removed from office in 2022.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the court martial began on 12 August 2024 and continued for 15 months under the Pakistan Army Act. He faced four charges, including breaching the Official Secrets Act in a manner deemed harmful to the state, misusing his powers and state resources, meddling in political affairs, and causing harm to citizens.
The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, and the details of the evidence were not made public. ISPR stated that Hameed was allowed legal representation of his choosing and has the right to appeal to the appropriate forum—initially the army chief, followed by the Supreme Court.
Separately, authorities are pursuing another case related to Hameed’s alleged role in political unrest, including accusations linking him to protests that erupted after Imran Khan’s arrest on 9 May 2023.
His lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, rejected the ruling, saying Hameed is “1,000% innocent” and that the defence team learned of the verdict only through the ISPR press release. He said the legal team is seeking a copy of the judgment and will immediately file an appeal once they receive it, expressing confidence that the decision could be overturned.
