Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years in jail by Pakistan court

Former chief of Pakistan Army's intelligence wing, the ISI, Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. This is the first time in Pakistan's history that an ISI head has been sentenced to jail. Confirming the verdict of the military court, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday that Faiz Hameed was found guilty of engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act (OSA). Earlier, a court-martial was initiated on August 12, 2024. Hameed served as the chief of the ISI from 2019 to 2021.

However, this may not be the end of the troubles for Hameed, who may be put on trial in other cases as well. The proceedings may begin soon in the case related to his "involvement of [the] convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements, and certain other matters are separately being dealt with." Recalling the disqualification of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, senior journalist Shahzeb Khanzada told Geo News, "Pakistan has always had a problem of political engineering, but Faiz Hameed took it to its peak."

Welcoming the decision, Senator Faisal Vawda said, "It was only the beginning," as the proceedings in the case related to the May 9 riots may soon begin. Speaking to Geo News, Vawda thanked the Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for "removing the filth" from his own institution, stressing that the move had laid down the "foundation for self-accountability."