The Pakistan Army on Monday took former General and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed into military custody
Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Taken Into Military Custody
The Pakistan Army on Monday took former General and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed into military custody and initiated court martial proceedings against him, said the army’s media wing. This move follows a detailed inquiry mandated by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to investigate allegations made in the Top City Case. This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a court martial has been initiated against a former intelligence chief.
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military has acted on the findings of the inquiry to address the complaints against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd). The court martial proceedings are being conducted under the provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.
The management of Top City, a private housing scheme, has accused former ISI chief Faiz Hameed of orchestrating a raid on the offices and residence of its owner, Moeez Khan, said Pakistan’s Dawn in a report. “In addition, multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established. The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been taken into military custody,” it added.
Lt Gen (retd.) Hameed was considered extremely powerful when he headed the spy agency from 2019 to 2021. He was appointed to the coveted post when then ISI chief and current Army chief Lt Gen Asim Munir was prematurely removed from the post. It was reported then that then prime minister Imran Khan was not happy with Munir. Later, the army decided to replace Mr Hameed, a move vehemently opposed by Imran Khan and it is believed that it was the beginning of souring of his ties with the powerful military.
The Top City case made headlines when on November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Mr Hameed of misusing his authority. He stated in the petition that on May 12, 2017, at the behest of Gen Hameed, ISI officials raided the top city office and his house and seized valuables, including gold, diamonds and money.
