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-Common 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 12 months.
“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) social gathering. The demonstrators focused state buildings and navy installations. 1000’s of individuals had been arrested, of whom about 100 confronted navy trials. Khan can be going through a number of circumstances associated to Might 9.
Based on the ISPR, Hamid has additionally been indicted for violations of the Official Secrets and techniques Act, misuse of authority, and improper use of presidency assets, 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 said on the time that the motion in opposition to Hamid was taken in accordance with a Supreme Court docket 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 said in August that the previous three-star normal had meddled in political affairs even after his retirement.
“Common Faiz was undoubtedly concerned within the political occasions that unfolded after his retirement,” Asif mentioned on August 12, when information of Hamid’s courtroom martial was made public.
Who’s Faiz Hamid?
As soon as thought of a detailed 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 Common Asim Munir took command of the military.
Hamid served in varied roles inside the ISI earlier than being handpicked by Khan to move 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, lots 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 resort 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 function in negotiating with the far-right spiritual social gathering 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 chargeable for counterintelligence.
“Suspicious motive”
The Pakistani navy, extensively considered the nation’s most influential establishment, has instantly dominated for greater than 30 years of Pakistan’s historical past. Nevertheless, regardless of going through persistent allegations of political interference, no former spy chief has ever confronted a courtroom martial.
Former Military Chief Common 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 tackle in November 2022, Bajwa acknowledged the navy’s unconstitutional interference in politics over the previous seven many years and promised reform.
“For my part, the rationale for that is the fixed meddling by the military in politics for the final 70 years, which is unconstitutional,” Bajwa mentioned, including that the navy had initiated its “catharsis.” He expressed hope that political events would additionally replicate on their actions.
Nevertheless, 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 normal informed Al Jazeera on situation of anonymity.
He dismissed lots of the allegations in opposition to Hamid as “hogwash” and expressed scepticism concerning 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 brazenly publicised.
“These issues are often stored out of the general public eye. This uncommon dissemination of knowledge raises questions concerning the motives behind the complete train,” the retired three-star normal mentioned.
Political commentator Muneeb Farooq says that the courtroom martial proceedings in opposition to the previous ISI chief had been “utterly unheard” of in Pakistani historical past.
However this, he mentioned, confirmed the importance and seriousness of the costs 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 informed Al Jazeera.
The Lahore-based analyst added that the cost sheet primarily accuses Hamid of being a “conspirator or confederate in cahoots” with Khan, particularly in the course of the occasions of Might 9.
