Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed arraigned on charges of indulging in political activities

English , Pakistan - پاکستان , Snippets , / Tuesday, December 10th, 2024

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Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (Retd) Faiz Hamid has been formally indicted on multiple charges, including engaging in political activities, the military’s media affairs wing said on Tuesday. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the charges are part of the ongoing court martial proceedings under the Pakistan Army Act. In a press release today, the military’s media wing confirmed that the process of a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) was initiated against retired Lt Gen Faiz Hameed under the provisions of the Pakistan Army Act on August 12, 2024. In addition to the charges, a separate investigation is also underway to examine Faiz Hameed’s alleged involvement in incidents that contributed to political unrest in the country, particularly events surrounding the disturbances of May 9, 2023, the ISPR statement read. “During the process, involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Retd), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, leading upto multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th May 2023 incident for fomenting instability; at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, is also being separately investigated. “Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Retd) is being afforded with all legal rights as per the law,” it added. In April this year, the army constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by a major general to look into the allegations against Gen Faiz. The inquiry was ordered in pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court and in the light of the directives of the Ministry of Defence. On August 12, he was detained by military authorities and court martial proceedings have been initiated against him on charges of corruption. On November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Gen Faiz for misusing his authority. The petition stated that on May 12, 2017, on the behest of Gen Faiz, ISI officials raided the Top City office and his house. During the raid, valuables, including gold, diamonds and money, were seized from the house by ISI officials, the petitioner alleged. The petition also stated that Sardar Najaf, the brother of Gen Faiz, also contacted him to resolve the issue later. The petition also claimed that Gen Faiz later personally met him to resolve the issue, in which he assured that some of the items which had been taken away by the ISI officials during the raid would be returned. However, 400 tolas of gold and cash will not be returned to him. The petition also alleged that the ISI officials extorted Rs4 crore cash from them. Considering the sensitivity of the matter and in view of these serious allegations, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, which included then Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aminuddin, heard the case. The Supreme Court observed this was a very serious matter and the serious nature of allegations may damage the image of the entire institution, therefore the matter cannot be ignored. The apex court asked the attorney general to look into the matter and discuss with the relevant authorities. The Attorney General for Pakistan assured the Supreme Judiciary that full cooperation will be given to the matter and action will be taken according to law. Gen Faiz was considered one of the most powerful ISI chiefs in Pakistan’s history. Before becoming the head of the spy agency, he was DG-C in the ISI, one of the most influential positions within the intelligence service. Unlike other spymasters, Gen Faiz remained in the headlines as he never shied away from publicity. He rose to global spotlight when he was seen drinking tea at a hotel in Kabul soon after the fall of Kabul at the hands of Afghan Taliban in August 2021. He was considered close to former prime minister Imran Khan and his close proximity to the PTI leader was believed to have been one of the major reasons of civil-military tussle at the time. Khan wanted to continue with Gen Faiz as head of ISI but then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was adamant to replace him. Gen Bajwa eventually succeeded but Khan could serve only a few months in office after that as he was removed from power through a vote of no-confidence.