Ex-ISI Chief In Pakistan Faces Court-Martial Amid Arrests Of Retired Officers

Pakistan’s military has announced the arrest of three retired officers in connection with an ongoing investigation into former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed. Hameed faces a court-martial on charges of corruption and misuse of power.

The military’s statement on Thursday linked these arrests to Hameed’s case, citing accusations of actions “prejudicial to military discipline.” The military is also investigating additional retired officers and their associates for allegedly conspiring with political interests to create instability.

Hameed, who led the ISI from 2019 to 2021 under former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was taken into custody on Monday. He is accused of misconduct related to a private housing scheme near Islamabad. The military’s inquiry, prompted by a Supreme Court complaint from a real estate developer, alleges that Hameed used his position to illegally occupy property and violated the Pakistan Army Act multiple times after his retirement.

Hameed, once a prominent figure tipped for the role of army chief, retired early in December 2022. According to the Pakistan Army Act, retired officers are prohibited from engaging in political activities for two years post-retirement.

The military, a dominant force in Pakistan‘s political landscape, has ruled the country for over 30 years of its nearly eight-decade history.