In a major breakthrough, Pakistan's former chief of Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant General (Retd) Faiz Hameed has been formally charged for carrying on political activities, which may now pave the way for a Field General Court Martial for him.
The media wing of Pakistan's military establishment, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Tuesday declared that Hameed has been brought into arraignment for charges of engaging in political activities, and this now puts the retired General on serious investigation over his activities as DGISI.
This would also include the involvement and extended hidden support to Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government, while planning and execution of violent assaults and attacks on military installations on May 9, 2023 by the workers and supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, PTI party.
On 12 August 2024, the FGCM procedure against Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed (Retd) commenced based on provision of Pakistan Army Act and firstly Lt.
General Faiz Hameed (Retd) was formally arraigned on accusations of political activities, causing detrimental activity contrary to the interest and safety of the state, abuse of authority and resources of government and wrongful gain to someone or the other, reads the ISPR statement.
"During the course of events, the involvement of Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed, in events related to creating agitation and unrest that led upon multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th May 2023 incident for fomenting instability; at the behest of an in collusion with vested political interests, are also being separately investigated. Lt. Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) is being afforded with all legal rights as per the law," ISPR added.
The development comes close to four months after the Pakistan Army had declared that it had arrested its ex-spy chief to start FGCM proceedings against him for violating the Army Act.
Hameed was arrested from Rawalpindi city and was summoned to attend a meeting with the in-service senior military officials. He had allegedly misused his powers as DGISI against an owner of a private housing society.
Later, it was learnt that the DGISI was also being investigated and grilled for his role in the May 9 riots of last year when PTI workers went on a rampage and stormed military installations all over the country, attacking, vandalising and damaging military properties besides also desecrating monuments of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) heroes in protest over the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Hameed's arrest clearly indicated that the military leadership in Pakistan, especially the intelligence chiefs, were no longer untouchable or above the law.
The arraignment of Hameed also indicates the deepening troubles for Imran Khan as several May 9 cases could now be brought before the military courts by the Pakistan Army's Official Secrets Act. PTI has been protesting and also seeking legal recourse with petitions, requesting the judiciary to stop the government and the military establishment from sending Khan's cases to the military courts.
It is an open secret that Hameed calls the shots in many areas and working his way up to be the next army chief of the country during Imran Khan's tenure.
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