ISLAMABAD – Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, former head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for violating the Official Secrets Act. The Pakistan Army’s media wing, ISPR, confirmed the sentence on December 11, 2025. A Field General Court Martial convicted Hameed after a 15-month trial.
The military tribunal found Hameed guilty on multiple charges. These included political interference, misuse of power, and unlawful actions that harmed individuals. The charges stemmed from his involvement in political matters and use of government resources for personal and political gain. The ISPR added that legal proceedings were thorough, and Hameed was granted the right to legal defense.
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Faiz Hameed’s troubles began with a Court of Inquiry launched in August 2024. This inquiry was ordered by the Supreme Court in relation to actions linked to Top City. The former ISI chief was taken into custody after the inquiry commenced. His arrest marked the start of a lengthy legal process.
The case further gained attention due to Hameed’s political involvement during his tenure. He was accused of facilitating political instability, especially during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in. Reports claimed that he played a key role in negotiating between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), leading to accusations of political interference.
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Faiz Hameed’s name first rose to prominence in 2017 when he was alleged to have helped broker the Faizabad sit-in agreement. His tenure as DG ISI from 2019 to 2021 was also marred by claims of political manipulation. He was accused of engineering political shifts, sparking allegations from former leaders, including Nawaz Sharif, of political victimization and misconduct.