A Pakistani army court docket has sentenced former inter-services intelligence (ISI) director basic Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed to 14 years in jail after a 15-month-long court-martial on a number of fees, together with political interference and violations of the official secrets and techniques act.The Discipline Normal Courtroom Martial, held below the Pakistan military act, discovered Hameed responsible on 4 counts – participating in political actions, misuse of authority and state assets, violation of the official secrets and techniques act, and inflicting wrongful loss to people. The army didn’t determine who suffered such losses. Officers stated Hameed was supplied full authorized rights and illustration throughout the proceedings. He retains the proper to attraction.
Hameed, as soon as thought of a detailed confidant of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, had been detained in 2024 after an inside investigation linked to the High Metropolis housing venture close to Islamabad. Till Thursday’s announcement, neither the fees nor particulars of the probe had been formally disclosed by the federal government or the army.Safety analyst Syed Muhammad Ali instructed AP that the decision adopted “a prolonged investigation that gave the previous ISI chief ample alternative to defend himself.” He added: “The choice alerts the army management’s intent that no officer, no matter rank, can be allowed to interact in politics, and Hameed’s case has been made an instance for all retired officers.”Hameed’s downfall marks a uncommon occasion of a high-ranking former army official dealing with such a stiff sentence in Pakistan, the place the military holds vital institutional affect and senior-level prosecutions are unusual.His political proximity to Imran Khan had lengthy drawn consideration. Khan – who was ousted in 2022 by way of a no-confidence vote and has since criticized the army and political management for his elimination – is serving a number of jail phrases on graft and different fees. The army, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s authorities and the US have all denied Khan’s declare that they engineered his exit.
