13 December 2025
On 12 December 2025, ISPR, a public relations department of Pakistan Army, announced that a former Director General Inter Services Intelligence (DG ISI) had been sentenced to 14 years in prison in a court martial proceeding started 15 months ago. The trial started on 12 August 2024. The charges inferred against him included “involvement in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act which harmed the interest of the state, misuse of his powers and government resources, and causing harm to citizens”.
The ISPR statement added that Lt General (Retired) Faiz Hameed (former DG ISI) had been given “the right to have a defence team of his choice” and that he has the right to appeal the decision in the “appropriate forum”, which would be the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Moreover, “involvement of (the) convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements… is separately being dealt with”, alluding to his alleged linkage to May 9, 2023 unrest.
The trial happened under closed doors in Military Court and publicly available information is only through ISPR press release.
Mian Ali Ashfaq, the lawyer of Hameed, said that his client was 1000% innocent and that they are applying to the appropriate forum for the copy of the decision. He added that they would file a petition to appeal, immediately after reception of the copy of the decision. The first forum they would be appealing to is the Chief of Army Staff. According to the Pakistan Army Act, Section 133B, an appeal must be filed within 40 days of the announcement or promulgation of the sentence.
The background of this case is believed to date back to the Hameed rendering staunch support to PTI leader Imran Khan. When Imran Khan was ousted from the office of Prime Minister in a no confidence vote in 2022, Hameed took retirement shortly after.
Legal proceedings of this case may stretch on and drag jailed Imran Khan as well.