ISLAMABAD, Dec 11:
Pakistan’s former spy chief Faiz Hameed was on Thursday sentenced to 14 years in jail by a military court, which found him guilty on multiple charges, including violating the Official Secrets Act and engaging in political activities.
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According to a statement by the army, the process of Field General Court Martial (FGCM) against Hameed was initiated on August 12, 2024, under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act, and continued for 15 months.
He was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act in a manner “detrimental to the safety and interests of the State”, misuse of authority & government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals.
“After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the accused has been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the court,” the army said.
It is for the first time that a former chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been convicted and sentenced. He served as the Director General of the ISI from 2019 to 2021.
He last served as Commander of the XXXI Corps before taking premature retirement in December 2022 after Asim Munir took over as the army chief. Hameed was considered close to the then Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.
The army said that the Court-Martial complied with all legal provisions and that the accused was “afforded with all legal rights, including (the) rights of (a) defence team of his choice.”
It said that the convict has the right of appeal at a relevant forum after conviction.
“Involvement of the convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements and in certain other matters is separately being dealt with,” the army said.
Hameed, a former lieutenant general, was arrested in connection with a petition filed by Top City housing society’s chief executive officer in the Supreme Court last year, wherein he was accused of land grabbing and stealing valuables from the owner of a private housing society during a raid. (PTI)
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