Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by military court

Field General Court Martial has sentenced former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty on multiple charges, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on Thursday.

According to the Inter‑Services Public Relations (ISPR), the court martial proceedings were initiated on August 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act and continued for 15 months.

ISPR said the accused was tried on four charges, including engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner “detrimental to the safety and interest of the state”, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals.

After what ISPR described as “lengthy and laborious legal proceedings”, the court found him guilty on all counts. The sentence was put into effect on December 11, 2025.

“The Field General Court Martial complied with all legal provisions. The accused was afforded all legal rights, including the right to a defence team of his choice,” the statement said, adding that the convict retains the right to appeal before the relevant forum.

A Field General Court Martial is a high‑level military tribunal constituted under the Pakistan Army Act, typically presided over by senior officers and empowered to try serious offences by serving and, in certain circumstances, retired officers.

ISPR further said that Hameed’s “involvement in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements and in certain other matters” is being dealt with separately.

Faiz Hameed is a retired three‑star general of the Pakistan Army’s Baloch Regiment and served as the director general of the Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, from June 2019 to 2021. He also commanded the Peshawar and Bahawalpur corps and held senior operational and intelligence leadership positions during his three‑decade military career.

The charges against him, as described in ISPR’s statement, involved alleged breaches of military discipline, misuse of official authority and actions considered prejudicial to state interest.

Details of the separate matters referenced by ISPR have not been disclosed in the statement.

Ministers respond to court martial verdict

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also reacted to the sentencing, stating that “the nation will, for years to come, reap the harvest of the seeds sown by former Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed and former Army Chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.”

He made these remarks on the social networking website X, in a statement attached to the ISPR press release regarding Hameed’s sentencing. He added, “May Allah forgive us, and grant us the guidance to consider power and authority as a gift from Allah and use it for the benefit of His creation. May the fear of God become the defining trait of rulers. Amen.”

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Hameed had also been penalised in the Top City case, in which he was accused of misusing his position to extort money from a private housing society. Tarar said the conviction was based on evidence, and Hameed had been given full opportunity to defend himself, including presenting witnesses.

He added that Hameed had “crossed the red line,” misused his authority, acted as a political adviser to PTI, and that further investigations into related political matters would continue. “The process of self-accountability within the army is very strong, and today’s decision is a victory of truth and justice,” Tarar said. He also noted that legal action would be taken against anyone who “crosses the red line.”