Pakistan’s former intelligence chief sentenced to 14 years in prison
Retired General Faiz Hameed, former director of Pakistan's intelligence services, was court marshalled for abuse of power and conspiracy related to the May 2023 violence, when hundreds of people protested demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. This is the first time a former intelligence chief was formally convicted. The sentence is part of a reorganisation of relations between the military and political leaders, following the recent strengthening of the military's role, raising concerns about the rule of law.
Islamabad (AsiaNews) – In an unprecedented move, a Pakistani military court sentenced General Faiz Hameed (rtd), a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and former army corps commander, to 14 years in prison.
This is the first time a former director of Pakistani intelligence was formally held accountable and convicted, shattering the country's long-held belief that military leaders are untouchable.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Armed Forces' news agency, Hameed was found guilty of abuse of power, violation of the Official Secrets Act, and orchestrating a conspiracy that could have jeopardised national stability and state institutions.
The charges against him are linked to the clashes and political chaos that erupted on 9 May 2023, when violent demonstrations broke out in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had been in prison for some time, targeting, among others, military installations, marking one of the most critical and delicate moments in Pakistan's recent history.
“Faiz Hameed's conviction represents a turning point," Hamza Arshad, a journalist and education expert, told AsiaNews.
“A former intelligence chief sentenced to 14 years for manipulating political leaders to further his own interests is something completely unprecedented in Pakistan,” the journalist explained.
“This verdict demonstrates that the Armed Forces' internal accountability mechanisms can be effective and can act as a deterrent to anyone attempting to foment instability for personal gain.”
According to Arshad, the sentence will have “profound political ramifications, both for the opposition and current government allies," potentially even impacting the fate of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who appointed Faiz Hameed as ISI head.
Political analyst Raja Saad also sees the conviction as part of a broader reshuffle of the balance of power between the army, the judiciary, and civilian leaders.
"Nawaz Sharif, the current prime minister, seems determined to settle scores with key establishment figures, from former Chief of the Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, to former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar. While declaring himself outside active politics, Sharif has called on the power apparatus to ensure a solid political future for his daughter Maryam Nawaz and to prosecute all those who conspired against him."
In this context, Faiz Hameed's imprisonment can be seen as "an indirect political success" for the former prime minister, who had previously attempted to bring former dictator Pervez Musharraf to justice, only to pay a very high political price.
For his part, Irfan Mutfi, deputy director of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan, also expressed his appreciation for the sentence to AsiaNews, expressing hope that it will become “an example of much-needed institutional accountability.”
“We hope," he explained, "that safeguards and protections will be introduced against such abuses of power for political manoeuvring and experimentation in the future, and that it adheres to the highest military standards and the principles of impartiality and non-interference in political processes."
Hameed's conviction comes at a time when Pakistan is experiencing strong intergovernmental tensions, with the military seeking to reassert its authority after years of direct interference in the country's political life.
It is hard to predict whether this decision truly marks the beginning of a new era of accountability, or whether it is an isolated case, linked to a contingent balance of power.
Recently, the Pakistan adopted a constitutional amendment to boost the powers of Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who in recent months has also held direct talks with US President Donald Trump.
The amendment reduced the powers of the courts, especially with respect to the military.
In addition to the opposition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stressed that Pakistan's latest political developments are having “far-reaching consequences for the principles of democracy and rule of law”.
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25/11/2022 11:46
