Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s navy has charged a former spy chief with “partaking in political actions”, in essence accusing him of working with ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan to destabilise the nation.
The chargesheet in opposition to retired Lieutenant-Basic Faiz Hamid, the previous head of Pakistan’s Inter-Providers Intelligence (ISI), follows months of investigations and proceedings below the Pakistan Military Act. Hamid was arrested in August this yr.
“Throughout the course of, the involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Retd) in occasions associated to creating agitation and unrest, main as much as a number of incidents, together with however not restricted to the occasions of Might 9, 2023, aimed toward fomenting instability on the behest of and in collusion with vested political pursuits—can be being individually investigated,” the assertion by the Inter-Providers Public Relations, the navy’s media wing, on Tuesday learn.
On that date, Khan’s arrest in reference to a corruption case led to protests by supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion. The demonstrators focused state buildings and navy installations. 1000’s of individuals had been arrested, of whom about 100 confronted military trials. Khan can be going through a number of instances associated to Might 9.
In line with the ISPR, Hamid has additionally been indicted for violations of the Official Secrets and techniques Act, misuse of authority, and improper use of presidency sources, amongst different fees.
Hamid’s arrest in August 2024 was prompted by what the navy described as “a number of situations of violation” of the Military Act, following his retirement in December 2022.
The ISPR acknowledged on the time that the motion in opposition to Hamid was taken in accordance with a Supreme Courtroom directive. This order stemmed from a petition by the land improvement firm High Metropolis, which alleged that Hamid and his brother had acquired properties illegally and blackmailed the corporate’s proprietor. Hamid has not commented on the accusations in opposition to him, both when he was arrested in August, or since then.
Days after his arrest, three different retired military officers had been additionally detained for “actions prejudicial to navy self-discipline”. These arrests are extensively believed to have been related to the proceedings in opposition to Hamid.
Whereas the federal government has but to touch upon the cost sheet launched, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif acknowledged in August that the previous three-star basic had meddled in political affairs even after his retirement.
“Basic Faiz was undoubtedly concerned within the political occasions that unfolded after his retirement,” Asif stated on August 12, when information of Hamid’s courtroom martial was made public.
Who’s Faiz Hamid?
As soon as thought-about an in depth confidant of former Prime Minister Khan and a contender for the place of military chief, Hamid opted for early retirement in December 2022, shortly after Basic Asim Munir took command of the military.
Hamid served in numerous roles inside the ISI earlier than being handpicked by Khan to go the company in June 2019, changing Munir.
His two-year tenure on the ISI was marked by allegations that he politically focused Khan’s rivals, a lot of whom had been jailed; cracked down on media, violated human rights, and suppressed protest actions throughout the nation.
Hamid gained additional worldwide consideration in August 2021 when he was photographed at a Kabul lodge shortly after the Taliban seized management of Afghanistan.
Following his transfer out of the ISI, Hamid, as Peshawar Corps Commander, facilitated talks between the federal government and the Pakistan Taliban.
Hamid additionally performed a key position in negotiating with the far-right spiritual occasion Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) throughout their protests in 2017 in opposition to the then-governing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), when he was deputed on the ISI as a senior official liable for counterintelligence.
“Suspicious motive”
The Pakistani navy, extensively thought to be the nation’s most influential establishment, has immediately dominated for greater than 30 years of Pakistan’s historical past. Nonetheless, regardless of going through persistent allegations of political interference, no former spy chief has ever confronted a courtroom martial.
Former Military Chief Basic Qamar Javed Bajwa, below whom Hamid served as ISI chief and later as Peshawar Corps Commander, has additionally confronted accusations of supporting Khan and engineering his rise to energy.
In his farewell deal with in November 2022, Bajwa acknowledged the navy’s unconstitutional interference in politics over the previous seven a long time and promised reform.
“For my part, the explanation for that is the fixed meddling by the military in politics for the final 70 years, which is unconstitutional,” Bajwa stated, including that the navy had initiated its “catharsis.” He expressed hope that political events would additionally replicate on their actions.
Nonetheless, some retired senior navy officers imagine that the navy’s interference in political issues persists and have criticised the courtroom martial in opposition to Hamid as incomplete with out holding Bajwa accountable.
“Hamid may have solely engaged in political actions below express directions from Bajwa, who was main the military,” a retired basic advised Al Jazeera on situation of anonymity.
He dismissed lots of the allegations in opposition to Hamid as “hogwash” and expressed scepticism in regards to the equity of the investigation.
The retired official additionally famous that the courtroom martial of a navy officer has by no means earlier than been so overtly publicised.
“These issues are often saved out of the general public eye. This uncommon dissemination of knowledge raises questions in regards to the motives behind the complete train,” the retired three-star basic stated.
Political commentator Muneeb Farooq says that the courtroom martial proceedings in opposition to the previous ISI chief had been “fully unheard” of in Pakistani historical past.
However this, he stated, confirmed the importance and seriousness of the fees in opposition to Hamid. “It seems that the navy has some proof of Hamid’s alleged involvement in intrigue and makes an attempt to sabotage present military chief Munir’s appointment two years in the past,” Farooq advised Al Jazeera.
The Lahore-based analyst added that the cost sheet basically accuses Hamid of being a “conspirator or confederate in cahoots” with Khan, particularly in the course of the occasions of Might 9.
