Islamabad (The COW News Digital)Former Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General (Retired) Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison following a military court trial on multiple charges, including unauthorized possession of classified documents after his retirement.
According to sources, one of the key allegations against Hameed involves retaining sensitive government files after leaving active service, despite having no legal authority to do so. Officials have not disclosed the nature or classification of these documents.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that Hameed faced four main charges during the trial. These included involvement in political activities post-retirement, violation of the Official Secrets Act in a manner detrimental to state security, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing harm to certain individuals.
Sources indicate that the charge under the Official Secrets Act specifically relates to the retention of classified documents beyond retirement. Meanwhile, the political activity allegation stems from Hameed’s post-retirement contacts and meetings with politicians. Reports from December 2024 indicated that Hameed maintained connections with nearly 50 politicians, most of whom were affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Under the 2023 amendment to the Army Act, officers who served in sensitive positions are prohibited from participating in political activities for five years after retirement. Hameed had reportedly been warned multiple times prior to his arrest to refrain from such engagements, but he continued these interactions, which were later scrutinized during the investigation.
Another significant allegation involved the “Top City” housing society case, in which Hameed was accused of leveraging his former position to attempt financial gain from a private housing society. The details of this matter have been publicly reported earlier.
The sentencing of a former ISI chief marks a rare instance of a high-ranking intelligence official being held accountable for both post-retirement political involvement and misuse of sensitive information. Observers note that the verdict could set a precedent for strict enforcement of rules concerning retired officers occupying influential positions or engaging in political activities.
The court-martial underscores Pakistan’s efforts to regulate the conduct of retired military officers and protect the confidentiality of state secrets. It also highlights the ongoing scrutiny over interactions between former military officials and political entities.
