Former spy chief of Pakistan Faiz Hamid has been indicted on charges of engaging in political activities, misuse of authority and government resources and violation of the Official Secrets Act, the military said on Tuesday.
Hamid, a retired lieutenant general, has been in military custody since the opening of court martial proceedings against him in August. The military confirmed that the former general was being afforded full legal rights under the law.
The statement said Hamid would also be investigated in connection with attacks on scores of Pakistani military installations in May 2023 by supporters of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.
Khan and dozens of his party leaders and supporters were last week indicted by an anti-terrorism court on charges of inciting the supporters to assault the military installations. Khan and his associates have denied the charges.
Hamid served under Khan as ISI chief of Pakistan from 2019 to 2021. Their ties caused tensions between Khan and army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa that led to the fall of the former international cricket star from power in 2022, analysts say.
Who Is Hamid?
Faiz Hamid, who led the ISI from 2019 to 2021, was known for his influence during his tenure. He had succeeded Lt Gen Asim Munir, who was reportedly removed prematurely, allegedly due to dissatisfaction from then Pakistan PM Khan.
When Hamid was later replaced, Khan’s resistance marked a shift in his relationship with the military. Hamid resigned in November 2022, ahead of his scheduled retirement, after being bypassed for the army chief position.
How It Began
On November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court accusing Hamid of abusing his authority. The petition alleged that, on May 12, 2017, ISI officials raided Khan’s office and residence under Hamid’s orders, seizing valuables including gold, diamonds, cash and extorting ₹4 crore.
As reported by PTI, A three-judge Supreme Court bench then referred the case to the Ministry of Defence for investigation. In April this year, the army announced a high-level inquiry committee led by a major general to probe the allegations.
The post of ISI chief is considered one of the most crucial roles in the Pakistan Army, which has wielded significant influence over the country’s security and foreign policy, having ruled Pakistan for much of its history.
(with inputs from Reuters)
