Pakistan Military Court Hands Ex-ISI Chief Faiz Hamid 14-Year Sentence in Rare Verdict Against Retired General
Pakistan has handed former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lt. Gen. (retd.) Faiz Hamid a 14-year prison sentence, following a military court ruling in Rawalpindi on Thursday. The conviction is one of the most unusual cases in Pakistan’s recent history, as senior retired generals are seldom tried, let alone sentenced, under military law. The charges against Hamid were tied to alleged political meddling and abuse of authority.
The army’s public statement said the verdict was delivered after an extended legal review conducted inside the military justice system. Officials confirmed that Hamid was convicted on four separate charges, though the court did not disclose details of the individual violations. The ruling comes at a moment of heightened political uncertainty, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan still imprisoned and many of his close allies facing legal battles.
According to reporting by Reuters, Faiz Hamid was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act and additional military statutes. Prosecutors accused him of inappropriate political activity, mishandling state resources, and actions that were deemed damaging to Pakistan’s national security. Each of these offenses carries significant penalties within military law, making the combined 14-year sentence one of the toughest rulings against a former intelligence chief.
Hamid served as ISI chief between 2019 and 2021, during a period in which he worked in close alignment with Imran Khan’s government. Their working relationship later became a flashpoint inside powerful military circles and contributed to divisions that surfaced after Khan’s ouster in 2022. While the military court did not disclose the incidents it reviewed, it stated that the proceedings were carried out according to the required legal steps.
Army officials also confirmed that Hamid retains the right to file an appeal. He is already being investigated in a separate case related to violent protests carried out by Khan’s supporters in May 2023, when several military facilities were attacked after Khan’s detention. Government ministers have accused Hamid of enabling political pressure campaigns carried out by Khan’s party, saying he crossed boundaries expected of serving officers. His defense team has not issued a public response to the conviction.
The verdict is expected to have serious political implications. Pakistan’s political arena has been strained as Imran Khan and several senior figures from his party face terrorism and corruption-related charges. Although the military leadership has repeatedly denied removing Khan from office, Khan continues to insist that the army orchestrated his fall. The conviction of Faiz Hamid now adds a new layer of complexity to this already tense relationship.
Observers say the ruling may influence how future civilian administrations interact with the military establishment. The armed forces have governed Pakistan directly for more than three decades across different periods, and they remain one of the most influential institutions in the country. Hamid’s sentence is widely seen as a signal that even high-ranking retired officers may face legal scrutiny in the current climate.
How the appeals process unfolds will be closely watched both domestically and abroad. For now, the 14-year sentence stands as one of the most significant disciplinary actions ever taken against a former senior intelligence official in Pakistan.
