Pakistan's ex-spy chief appeals 14-year military court conviction

Retired Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed, the former head of Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, has challenged his 14-year rigorous imprisonment sentence in a military appeals court, his lawyer said.

Hameed’s counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq, told Nukta that the appeal was filed with the military’s Court of Appeals, marking the first legal step against a verdict issued by a Field General Court Martial on December 11.

Ashfaq declined to disclose the specific grounds raised in the petition.

Hameed, who served as ISI director-general from 2019 to 2021, was convicted on four charges, including violations of the Official Secrets Act, engaging in political activity after retirement, abuse of authority, and causing wrongful loss to a private citizen.

The case stems from a 2017 complaint filed by businessman Kanwar Moeez Khan, who accused Hameed, then a major general, of leading a raid on his properties.

Khan alleged he was forced to pay PKR 40 million and fund a television channel.

The complaint remained dormant for several years until Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in 2023, directed the complainant to approach the Ministry of Defense, prompting a military investigation.

Although Hameed retired in late 2022, the army invoked rarely used provisions of the Pakistan Army Act to retain jurisdiction over retired officers accused of grave offenses.

Those provisions cleared the way for his arrest in August 2024.

In a statement issued on December 11, the military’s media wing stripped Hameed of his rank in public references, describing him as “Mr Faiz Hameed, formerly a lieutenant general.”

The statement also said separate proceedings were continuing over his alleged role in “fomenting instability” alongside certain political actors.

The appeals process is expected to be lengthy.

The case will first be reviewed by a panel led by an officer of major general rank or above, with final authority resting with Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, who can confirm, reduce, or annul the sentence.

Hameed is only the second three-star general in Pakistan’s history to be convicted and jailed by a military court.

His conviction comes amid strained civil-military relations and long-standing allegations that elements within the ISI sought to influence Pakistan’s turbulent politics during and after the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

As of Sunday evening, the Inter-Services Public Relations had not issued a statement on the filing of the appeal.

Hameed remains in military custody.