Pakistan’s former spy chief has been sentenced to 14 years in jail by a army court docket, on prices together with violation of state secrets and techniques and interfering in politics.
Faiz Hameed led Pakistan’s Inter-Providers Intelligence (ISI) company from 2019 to 2021, through the tenure of now-jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
He was recognized to be a staunch supporter of Khan, and took early retirement shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022.
It’s the first time that an ISI chief in Pakistan has been court docket martialled. His lawyer mentioned he plans to enchantment towards the decision.
The ISI chief is seen because the second strongest place in Pakistan’s army.
In line with a press launch issued by the general public relations arm of Pakistani army (ISPR), the 15-month-long court docket martial continuing started on August 12, 2024, beneath the Pakistan Military Act.
Hameed was tried on 4 prices, together with “involvement in political actions, violation of the Official Secrets and techniques Act which harmed the curiosity of the state, misuse of his powers and authorities sources, and inflicting hurt to residents”.
The ISPR assertion added that Hameed had been given “the correct to have a defence crew of his selection” and that he has the correct to enchantment the choice within the “acceptable discussion board”, which might be the Supreme Court docket of Pakistan.
The precise particulars of the case usually are not public because the listening to was held behind closed doorways in a army court docket.
The assertion says that Hameed’s alleged involvement in fomenting political agitation and instability is being handled individually.
That is assumed to be relating to allegations that Hameed was tied to protests towards Imran Khan’s arrest on 9 Might 2023.
Hameed’s lawyer, Mian Ali Ashfaq, mentioned his shopper was “1,000% harmless, however that is the court docket’s resolution”.
“We have been unaware of the judgement and solely discovered by the ISPR’s press launch. We are actually making use of to the related discussion board for a duplicate of the choice,” he informed the BBC.
“As quickly as we obtain it, we’ll evaluate it and instantly file a petition to enchantment. Proper now, the primary discussion board for enchantment is the military chief, so that’s what we’ll do. We’re hopeful that on the subsequent discussion board we’ll current our case and acquire justice.”
