Pakistan Army vows zero tolerance against all involved in ex-spy chief's case

The spokesperson for the Pakistan Army announced that action will be taken against anyone involved in the ex-spymaster Faiz Hameed case, irrespective of their rank or status.

On Thursday, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that court-martial proceedings against former DG-Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen. (Retd) Faiz Hameed were initiated based on substantial evidence.

Speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi, Chaudhry stated that the law will take its due course if any member of the Pakistan Army acts for personal gain or advances a specific agenda.

He further clarified that the Army found the former intelligence chief to have violated the Army Act, which led to the initiation of Field General Court Martial proceedings against him.

The Pakistan Army Act, enacted in 1952, provides the legal framework for governing the conduct, discipline, and administration of the Pakistan Army, including provisions for military justice such as court-martial proceedings, penalties for offenses committed by army personnel, and regulations related to their duties and responsibilities.

Lt. Gen. Chaudhry elaborated on Faiz Hameed's arrest, explaining that the inquiry against him involves allegations of land grabbing and the seizure of valuables from the owner of a private housing society.

During the 50-minute briefing, the DG ISPR reiterated that the Pakistan Army remains neutral and does not support or oppose any political party. He emphasized that there will be no compromise on national security.

Chaudhry also highlighted that the Army, being a national institution, holds no political agenda and operates on a foundation of self-accountability. The military’s internal accountability system is thorough and transparent, operating based on solid evidence rather than mere allegations, he explained.

Security situation

Discussing Pakistan's security situation in the wake of last month’s deadly Balochistan attacks, the DG ISPR stated that security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 32,173 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorists and their facilitators across the country during the first eight months of this year. Around 4,021 operations were carried out in the past month alone.

In August, at least 90 militants (referred to as Khawarij) were neutralized during these operations. The Pakistan Army and LEAs cleared approximately 46,000 square kilometers of terrorist activity, he added.

The DG ISPR emphasized that there is no region in Pakistan where terrorists are currently active. "The war against Fitna al-Khawarij and terrorism will continue until the last terrorist is eradicated," he said. He also noted that on a daily basis, the Pakistan Army, police, and other law enforcement agencies conduct more than 130 operations.

During the first eight months of the year, 193 soldiers laid down their lives while fighting against terrorists, the DG ISPR said as he paid tribute to the martyrs and their bereaved families.

Lt. Gen. Sharif reaffirmed that the fight against terrorism and Fitna al-Khawarij will persist until the last terrorist is eliminated.

Faiz Hameed's arrest

In a stunning revelation last month, the Pakistani military’s media wing announced the arrest of Pakistan’s former all-powerful spy chief and the initiation of court martial proceedings against him.

The ISPR explained in a brief statement that the disciplinary action against the former army officer complies with the Supreme Court’s orders related to a housing society scandal. The case first emerged in 2017 when Faiz was serving as Director General-Counter Intelligence (DG-C). Additionally, he is to be charged with multiple unspecified violations of the Pakistan Army Act committed after his retirement.

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A few days later, the ISPR informed that three more retired officers had also been taken into military custody for “actions prejudicial to military discipline” in connection with the court martial proceedings of Gen Faiz.

“Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing,” their statement maintained.