The ruling coalition in Pakistan has expressed strong support for the arrest of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed, who is facing a court martial over his alleged involvement in a housing scheme scandal. However, the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has chosen to remain neutral, describing the matter as an “internal” issue of the military.
Faiz Hameed, who served as the ISI director general from 2019 to 2021 under Imran Khan’s premiership, has been accused of intervening in political affairs on behalf of Khan. The Pakistan Army announced that Hameed was arrested on Monday, August 12, 2024, by military authorities. The court martial proceedings against him are being conducted under the Pakistan Army Act, following an investigation into complaints from the owner of Top City Housing Society, who alleged that Hameed ordered a raid on his house.
Prominent figures from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have voiced their approval of the military’s actions. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called the arrest a “right decision” based on the findings of the investigation. Senator Irfan Siddiqui noted that as the investigation progresses, Hameed’s political interference will also be revealed. Siddiqui cited former Prime Minister Khan’s acknowledgment that Hameed had supported PTI in Parliament by facilitating legislative processes and securing the necessary number of members in the National Assembly.
PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah accused Hameed of orchestrating the Faizabad sit-in through a religious group, which disrupted the federal capital for weeks. He stated that the action against Hameed was prompted by a Supreme Court order in the private housing scheme case involving Top City, whose owner accused Hameed of abusing his power during a raid in 2017.
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira praised the military’s internal accountability mechanisms, pointing out that the inquiry confirmed multiple violations by Hameed, leading to disciplinary action under the Pakistan Army Act. He emphasized that the decision to court martial a high-ranking officer like Hameed underscores the gravity of the alleged offenses.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif remarked that Hameed’s involvement in political matters did not cease after his retirement, noting that his actions continued to influence the political landscape.