Pakistan’s military announced on Monday the arrest of former spy chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed (Retd), who served during the tenure of ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, now imprisoned.
The military’s statement revealed that Hameed is being charged with violating the conditions of his retirement from the armed forces, alongside facing additional allegations related to a land development issue.
Hameed, who led the Inter-Services Intelligence agency from 2019 to 2021, has been accused of abusing his official position.
Supreme Court documents released in 2023 revealed that he allegedly orchestrated a raid on a property developer’s business.
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives, the Pakistan Army conducted a thorough court of inquiry, leading to the initiation of disciplinary action against Hameed, as per the military’s statement.
Hameed’s arrest is a rare event in Pakistan, where the military, which has governed the country for 30 of its 77 years since independence, continues to wield significant political influence.
The role of the ISI director general, particularly during Hameed’s tenure, is often regarded as the second most powerful military position in Pakistan, just after the army chief.
Hameed gained international attention in 2021 when he was filmed sipping tea in the lobby of Kabul’s Serena Hotel, shortly after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
This incident highlighted the longstanding accusations by Washington of the ISI’s support for the Taliban.
Seen as a close ally of Khan, Hameed opted for early retirement in late 2022, following Khan’s ousting from power earlier that year.
Khan, who has been in jail since 2023, faces multiple charges, including corruption, which his supporters argue are politically motivated.
Despite Khan’s incarceration, his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf remains highly popular.
The coalition government’s consideration of banning the party raises concerns of potential social unrest.
Analysts note that it is uncommon for senior military figures in Pakistan to be subjected to legal proceedings.
In what appeared to be a show of defiance following the military’s announcement, the ruling party tweeted a photo of Sharif with the caption, ‘I leave my decision to Allah!’
Hameed’s rise to global recognition was cemented by his appearance on video in Kabul, where his presence underscored the ISI’s connections with the Taliban, a group that has long been at odds with the US and its allies.
Michael Kugelman, a fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington DC, remarked, “The military looks to be making an example of Faiz, showing that it takes accountability seriously, even when it comes to one of its own.”
