14 Years Jail: Ex-ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Convicted in Historic Court-Martial

In an unprecedented verdict that shakes the foundations of Pakistan's powerful military establishment, a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) today sentenced retired Lieutenant General [Faiz Hameed], the former Director General of the ISI, to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. The judgment, announced by the military's media wing (ISPR) on December 11, 2025, found Hameed guilty on all four charges, including violating the Official Secrets Act, engaging in political activities, and abusing authority for personal gain. The court also ordered the seizure of all his assets and revoked his pension, marking the first time a former ISI chief has faced such severe accountability.

The Context (How We Got Here)

Faiz Hameed's downfall began with his arrest in August 2024, triggered by a Supreme Court order to investigate allegations by Moeez Ahmed Khan, owner of the Top City housing scheme. Khan accused Hameed of orchestrating illegal raids in 2017 to seize gold and diamonds. However, the trial expanded far beyond corruption. Hameed, once seen as the architect of Imran Khan's rise and the "tea-sipping" face of Taliban engagement in Kabul, became embroiled in the May 9 riots and political engineering. His conviction closes a 15-month legal process that many view as the military's attempt to purge the "Faiz brand" of political interventionism.

The Key Players (Who & So What)

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Faiz Hameed: The convict. Once one of Pakistan's most feared men, his sentence symbolizes the end of an era where intelligence chiefs operated with impunity. His conviction for "political activities" is a direct indictment of his role in managing civilian governments.
General [Asim Munir] (Army Chief): The victor. Removed as ISI chief by Imran Khan in 2019 reportedly at Hameed's behest, Munir's return to power has culminated in the prosecution of his predecessor. This verdict cements Munir's control over the institution.
Supreme Court of Pakistan: The catalyst. By ordering the initial inquiry into the Top City case, the judiciary forced the military's hand, creating the legal opening for this historic court-martial.

The BIGSTORY Reframe

While headlines hail this as "accountability," the deeper story is the "Institutional Purge." This verdict isn't just about justice for a housing society owner; it's a strategic consolidation of power within the Pakistan Army. By prosecuting Hameed under the Army Act rather than civilian law, the military has kept the process "in-house," preventing a public spectacle while sending a chilling message to serving officers: loyalty to the institution (and its current chief) supersedes political alliances. The conviction effectively criminalizes the very "political engineering" that Hameed was once celebrated for, signaling a new red line—or perhaps, just a changing of the guard.

The Implications (Why This Changes Things)

The verdict shatters the myth of invincibility surrounding the ISI chief's office. It sets a terrifying precedent for future intelligence heads: your actions today can be prosecuted tomorrow if the political winds shift. For Imran Khan's PTI party, this is a devastating blow, confirming the dismantling of their former patron network within the establishment. However, the secrecy of the trial and the lack of public evidence leaves a lingering question: is this the start of genuine rule-of-law reform, or simply the closing of ranks against a "rogue" element?

The Closing Question (Now, Think About This)

If the man who knew all of Pakistan's secrets is now in prison, who is holding the keys to the files he left behind?

FAQs

Why was Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years? He was convicted by a Field General Court Martial for violating the Official Secrets Act, engaging in unauthorized political activities, and abusing his authority to cause wrongful loss to individuals (specifically in the Top City housing case).

What is the Top City housing scam? It refers to allegations that in 2017, under Hameed's command, ISI officials raided the Top City housing society office and the owner's home, seizing valuables like gold and cash illegally. The Supreme Court ordered an inquiry into this, which led to Hameed's arrest.

Is this the first time an ISI chief has been court-martialed? Yes. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Faiz Hameed is the first former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency to face a court-martial and be sentenced to prison in Pakistan's history.

Does this verdict affect Imran Khan? Indirectly, yes. Hameed was seen as a close ally of former PM Imran Khan. His conviction for "political activities" reinforces the military establishment's narrative against Khan's era and removes a key figure who was once tipped to be Army Chief under Khan.

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Sseema Giill Founder & CEO

Sseema Giill is an inspiring media professional, CEO of Screenage Media Pvt Ltd, and founder of the NGO AGE (Association for Gender Equality). She is also the Founder CEO and Chief Editor at BIGSTORY NETWORK. Giill champions women's empowerment and gender equality, particularly in rural India, and was honored with the Champions of Change Award in 2023.