Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has been placed in military custody as disciplinary measures are taken against him. The Pakistan Army has begun a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) to address the charges against the retired officer.
This action is part of the military’s internal accountability process. Following Supreme Court orders, the Army conducted a detailed inquiry into complaints related to the Top City Case. As a result, Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) faces disciplinary action under the Pakistan Army Act.
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The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also revealed that several post-retirement violations of the Pakistan Army Act were found. Consequently, the FGCM process has started, and Lt Gen Hameed has been placed under military custody.
Allegations
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Army launched an inquiry into retired General Faiz Hameed following allegations made by Moeez Khan, the owner of Top City society. Khan had petitioned the Supreme Court, which then ordered an investigation into the claims. In November 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that the allegations against Hameed were serious and warranted attention, alleging misuse of authority.
In response, the Army formed an inquiry committee led by a major general to examine the charges against Hameed, following Supreme Court directives. The Court acted under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, emphasizing that the complaint should be handled legally.
The inquiry stems from a petition filed by Khan, which detailed incidents involving Hameed and his associates, including Brigadier (retd) Naeem Fakhar, Brigadier (retd) Ghaffar, and Irtiza Haroon.
The Petition
The petitioner alleged that in May 2017, Pakistan Rangers and ISI officials conducted a raid on the office of Top City society and a resident’s home, confiscating valuables such as gold, diamonds, and cash in connection with a terrorism investigation.
The petitioner claimed that after an acquittal, efforts were made by Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother to mediate, leading to Hameed supposedly negotiating through a brigadier to return some of the seized items, while keeping a significant amount of gold and cash.
Additionally, the petitioner accused retired ISI officials of pressuring them to pay a large sum of money and support a private television network. The petition also mentioned other individuals allegedly involved.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that the Supreme Court’s Human Rights Cell had previously handled the case, with former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar ordering the destruction of relevant records. The Supreme Court advised the petitioner to pursue the issue through proper channels, suggesting that civil or criminal courts could address claims of malicious prosecution. The court also highlighted inconsistencies in how the housing scheme’s proceedings were managed under former Chief Justice Nisar.
