Ex-spymaster Faiz Hameed ‘taken into military custody’

ISLAMABAD: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has been taken into military custody and “the process of Field General Court Martial” has been initiated against him, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed, who stepped down in December 2022, was accused of abusing his power and raiding the businesses of a private housing developer, according to Supreme Court papers published last year. The court at the time ordered the developer to take his complaints to the ministry of defence.

“Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army. Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd),” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The process of court martial “has been initiated” and Hameed “has been taken into military custody”, the statement said. It added that “multiple instances of violation” of the Pakistan Army Act since his retirement had also been “established”.

The arrest was made in connection with a petition filed by a housing society’s chief executive officer in the Supreme Court last year, wherein the former ISI chief was accused of land grabbing and stealing valuables during a raid.

In the plea filed with the apex court’s human rights cell (HRC) in November 2023, the petitioner had sought action against the former director general ISI.“After the raid, I along with my five other colleagues were kept in confinement. The federal government should take action against Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, his brother Najaf and others,” the petitioner Moeez Ahmed Khan had stated in his petition.

A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aminuddin Khan heard the matter. The bench disposed of the petition on November 8, 2023 and directed the petitioner to approach the relevant forum against the retired general.

In the written order, the bench stated that the applicant had alleged that Lt-Gen (retd) Hameed, who was then serving in the armed forces and working with the ISI, misused his office, and on his directions crimes were committed against the applicant and his family.

The written order further stated the learned additional attorney general (AAG) stated that there are a number of remedies available to the applicant, including approaching the Ministry of Defence as the complaint/grievance pertains to a period when the said respondents were serving officers in the Armed Forces and/or to file a criminal case, including one for malicious prosecution, and/or to file a suit for damages, or to do all these.”

“The learned AAG also stated that if a complaint is addressed to the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Pakistan it will be given due consideration,” said the order, adding “the allegations are of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the Federal Government, the Armed Forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers, therefore, they cannot be left unattended.”Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed had sought early retirement in November 2022 and his request was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in December.