Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Sentenced To 14 Years Rigorous Imprisonment, Deep Rifts Emerge Inside Pakistan Army | World News
Former ISI Director General Lieutenant General (Retired) Faiz Hameed was sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the Field General Court (FGCM), in a move that sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s military and political establishment. The decision, approved on December 11, 2025, constitutes one of the harshest sentences given to a former senior intelligence official in Pakistan. If reports are to be believed, the Pakistani government is of the view that Hameed helped Imran Khan gain power and administrative support.
The strong decision, made under the tenure of Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir, underscores a widening rift within the Pakistan Army, an institution historically known for shielding its senior leadership from public accountability.
ISPR Approves Charges and Sentence
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In a detailed statement, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the proceedings began on August 12, 2024 and continued for over 15 months. Hameed was tried under the Pakistan Army Act on four main charges:
* Engaging in political activities
* Violation of the Official Secrets Act
* Abuse of authority and state resources
* Unjust harm to individuals
After what the ISPR described as “long and laborious legal proceedings”, the former general was found guilty on all counts.
The military’s media wing said the trial complied with all legal requirements and said Hameed was given full rights, including representation by a defense team of his choice. The right to object is reserved.
Allegations of Political Engineering Still Under Investigation
ISPR also stated that Hameed’s alleged involvement in inciting political agitation and coordinating with certain political elements was “dealt with separately”. These revelations intensified speculation about the depth of internal factionalism within the armed forces and the extent of political interference by senior intelligence officials.
A Historical First in Pakistan’s Power Structure
Such a conviction is unusual in Pakistan, a country where military leaders often have more power than elected governments. Senior generals traditionally enjoy immunity even when accused of political interference, corruption or undue influence over civilian institutions.
Hameed, once considered one of the most influential figures in the security apparatus and a key architect of political engineering, is the most senior intelligence official to face such punishment in decades.
Internal Crisis Within the Army
Analysts say the sentence signals a deep and growing power struggle within the Pakistan Army, long considered the country’s most stable institution. The public exposure of these divisions underscores the institutional collapse taking place behind the scenes.
The case also sheds light on Pakistan’s chronic civil-military imbalance, where intelligence agencies have historically shaped political outcomes, from forming governments to displacing them.
Pakistan’s Wide Turmoil Intensifies
The decision came at a time when Pakistan was struggling with the following problems:
* Persistent political uncertainty
* Serious economic instability
* Resurgent militancy
* Widespread public distrust of government institutions
In the midst of these crises, the imprisonment of a former ISI chief reveals the extent of turmoil within the army itself, an institution often described as the backbone of the Pakistani state.
A Turning Point or a Tactical Purge?
It remains unclear whether this belief signals the beginning of real institutional reform or merely a consolidation of power under the current military leadership. But what is certain is that the sentence handed down to Faiz Hameed has cracked open the unity front within Pakistan’s military establishment and unleashed a struggle that could shape the country’s political course for years to come.
