Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed was on Thursday sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court, marking the culmination of a year-long series of investigations and proceedings against him. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the punishment was handed down by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) after Hameed was found guilty on multiple charges, including engaging in political activities, violating anti-espionage laws and abusing his authority.
Scrutiny of the former spymaster’s conduct began in November 2023, when the Supreme Court noted that allegations of an “extremely serious nature” against him could not be ignored, warning that failure to investigate would undermine public confidence in state institutions. This observation set in motion a string of inquiries that eventually led to Hameed’s detention.
On August 12, 2024, the military confirmed that Hameed had been taken into custody as part of proceedings related to the Top City housing scheme scandal. The government welcomed the move, calling it a step toward strengthening the rule of law. The PTI, meanwhile, termed the matter an internal issue of the army.
Days later, on August 17, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed that Hameed had apologised to him for victimising him in the past. Calling the development “a miracle,” Dar said he was among those who had suffered due to the former general’s actions.
You May Also Like: ECP rejects CM Bugti’s plea; Quetta local govt polls to proceed on Dec 28
On August 22, PTI founder Imran Khan publicly called for an open trial, claiming that transparency would expose what he described as the “regime change operation” and reveal facts related to the May 9 incidents. He argued that if Hameed was to be tried for mutiny, proceedings should be accessible to the public.
The ISPR later stated on September 5 that court martial proceedings had been initiated based on “concrete evidence.” On December 10, 2024, the military confirmed that Hameed had been formally indicted on three charges. Additional inquiries continued into 2025, including allegations raised on February 13 by ANP leader Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, who said accountability must also extend to actions that resulted in the “loss of Pashtun lives.”
The sentencing delivered on December 11, 2025, brings the high-profile case to a decisive stage, representing one of the most significant legal actions taken against a former intelligence chief in recent years.
