Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Arrested and Facing Court Martial in Landmark Housing Scheme Scandal

The recent arrest and impending court-martial of former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed marks a significant and unprecedented event in Pakistan's military and political landscape. The Pakistan Army announced on Monday that it had taken Hameed into military custody in connection with a housing scheme scandal, specifically the Top City case. The decision follows a detailed court of inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which found that complaints against Hameed warranted disciplinary action under the Pakistan Army Act.

Hameed, who led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from 2019 to 2021, was a highly influential figure during his tenure. His appointment to the top spy post was notable for the circumstances under which his predecessor, Lt Gen Asim Munir, was removed—reportedly due to dissatisfaction from then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Hameed's subsequent removal from the ISI, which Khan opposed, is believed to have marked the beginning of the deteriorating relationship between Khan and the military establishment.

The Top City case, which surfaced prominently in late 2023, involves allegations from Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of the housing project, who accused Hameed of misusing his authority. Khan claimed that in 2017, ISI officials, allegedly acting on Hameed's orders, raided his office and home, seizing valuables, including gold and cash. He further alleged that Hameed's brother, Sardar Najaf, later attempted to mediate the issue, with Hameed himself eventually intervening.

The Supreme Court's three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, referred the case to the Ministry of Defence for further investigation. The Pakistan Army initiated an internal inquiry, headed by a major general, which ultimately led to the current court-martial proceedings.

Hameed's arrest and the court-martial proceedings underscore the military's ongoing influence and the serious repercussions of internal scandals. It also highlights the complex dynamics within Pakistan's power structures, where military and political interests often intersect.