Islamabad: Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt. Gen. (retd) Faiz Hameed has filed an appeal against his 14-year rigorous imprisonment sentence, his lawyer confirmed on Monday. The sentence was handed down by a military court on December 11 following convictions on four charges, including violations of secrecy laws, engagement in political activities, misuse of authority, and causing harm to others.
Under Section 133B of the Pakistan Army Act, Hameed had a 40-day window to challenge the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) verdict. The appeal will first be examined by a Court of Appeals headed by a major general or higher, as appointed by the army chief, who retains the final authority to confirm, revise, or overturn the sentence. Military appellate proceedings historically take several years to conclude.
Announcing the verdict, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the FGCM process began on August 12, 2024, lasting 15 months. The ISPR stated that Hameed’s involvement in fomenting political agitation in coordination with political actors and other matters was being addressed separately. The statement referred to Hameed as formerly a lieutenant general, suggesting he may have been stripped of his rank, although no official confirmation was provided.
The case against Hameed originated from a 2017 complaint by property developer Kanwar Moeez Khan, who alleged that Hameed, then a major general, orchestrated a raid on his home and offices, seized valuables, and coerced him into paying Rs40 million and funding a private TV channel. The matter resurfaced in 2023 after the Supreme Court advised Khan to seek remedies through the defence ministry, prompting a formal military inquiry.
Hameed, who retired in November 2022, is the first former ISI chief and only the second three-star general in Pakistan’s history to face a full military trial resulting in imprisonment. A Court of Inquiry in April 2024 found sufficient grounds to proceed, leading to his arrest in August 2024. The FGCM also investigated several retired officers, though their outcomes were not disclosed in the verdict.