Pakistan's former spy chief, Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court for charges that include violation of state secrets and interfering in political matters.
Hameed, who led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from 2019 to 2021 during the tenure of the now-jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, became known as a strong supporter of Khan. He took early retirement shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022.
This case marks a significant moment in Pakistan's military history as it is the first instance of an ISI chief being court-martialed.
The military's public relations office noted that Hameed began his trial on August 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act, facing four charges. His alleged violations included involvement in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act, misuse of his power, and causing harm to citizens.
Despite Hameed's lawyer asserting his client's innocence, the verdict was delivered through a press release from the military, and it detailed that Hameed had the right to form a defense team of his choice and appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The proceedings were conducted privately, and thus specific details of the charges remain undisclosed. The press release noted separate investigations concerning Hameed's involvement in political unrest related to protests against Imran Khan's arrest on May 9, 2023.
Currently, Hameed's legal team plans to submit an appeal against the verdict, with hopes of achieving a favorable outcome in the next legal forum.
Additional reporting by Farhat Javed.
