The arrest of a high-profile official is unusual in the country, which has seen military rule for more than 30 of the 77 years since independence.
The military said in a statement that the arrest was ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court and that he was accused of violating the terms of his retirement from the armed forces as well as for his alleged involvement in a land development issue.
According to the military statement, multiple violations of Pakistan’s Army Act were established after Hameed’s retirement.
“In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan… the process of General Field Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd) has been remanded in military custody,” the army said.
Who is Faiz Hameed?
Hameed served as the ISI’s director general from 2019 to 2021. He was often considered close to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who appointed him as ISI chief during his tenure. Hameed was even accused of meddling in political affairs at his behest.
Hameed, a key figure in Pakistan’s security apparatus, rose to the top post after replacing General Asim Munir, who now serves as Pakistan’s army chief.
He first rose to prominence in 2017 when he played a major role in resolving the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan-led Faizabad dispute through a negotiated settlement.
He later rose to global fame in 2021 when he was filmed having tea with the Taliban in the lobby of Kabul’s Serena Hotel, shortly after the group took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
At the time, many claimed that this was an indication of Pakistan’s support for the Taliban.
When he served as ISI chief, many politicians, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, accused Hameed of being heavy-handed to please his bosses in the government, according to reports.
Sharif publicly claimed that Hameed, along with some Supreme Court judges and another military general, were behind the ouster of his government in 2017.
After General Munir took over command of the Pakistani army, Hameed was forced to resign four months before his scheduled retirement, highlighting high tensions between Imran Khan and the military.
Former minister Faisal Vawda also accused Hameed of being the “architect, mastermind and biggest beneficiary” of the infamous Al-Qadir Trust case in May 2023.
The case against Faiz Hameed
The case against Hameed is based on a petition filed by Kanwar Moeez Khan, chief executive of Top City Housing Society, in the Supreme Court in November.
The petitioner alleged that at the behest of Hameed, the ISI, along with Pakistan Rangers, conducted a raid at his office and residence on May 12, 2017, in connection with an alleged terror case. Following the raid, gold and diamond ornaments, money and other valuables were taken away, Dawn reported.
Hameed reportedly took action against Kanwar Moeez Khan based on a complaint by Zahida Javed Aslam, a Pakistani-born British citizen.
Aslam claimed that Kanwar Moeez Khan was his employee and fraudulently transferred the project land into his name, the report said.
After a Rawalpindi-based ATC acquitted Kanwar Moeez Khan in the terror case, he claimed that Hameed contacted him through his cousin, who is an army brigadier, to arrange a meeting.
The petitioner further claimed that during the meeting, Hameed told Moeez to return all the items from the raid except 400 tolas of gold and cash.
The Pakistani court ordered the defence ministry to investigate the matter, saying the allegations against Hameed were of an “extremely serious nature” and “cannot be left unattended”.
In April this year, the military formed a committee to investigate the allegations.
The ISPR said: “…multiple cases of violation of Pakistan Army Act after retirement have also been registered (against Hameed). The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd) has been taken into military custody.”
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