Pakistan: Last Nail In PTI’s Coffin? Army Arrests Former ISI Chief Believed To Be Close To Imran Khan

In a major development, former chief of Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, has been taken into military custody by the Army, and a court martial process has been initiated against him.

The former spy chief has been arrested in connection with a housing scheme scandal, according to reports in Pakistani media on Monday, August 12.

This marks a historic first in Pakistan, with a court martial proceeding against a former spymaster. The move follows orders from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which mandated a thorough inquiry by the Pakistan Army to investigate the validity of the complaints against Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed (Retd).

General Hameed, who opted for early retirement and submitted his resignation in November 2022, had served as the chief of ISI since June 2019.

His tenure was marked by significant controversy, including an alleged standoff between the military and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over the appointment of Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum as the new ISI chief in late 2021.

On October 6, 2021, the army announced General Hameed's appointment as the Peshawar corps commander, with Lieutenant General Anjum set to take over as ISI chief. However, the Prime Minister’s Office under Imran Khan did not officially notify Lieutenant General Anjum’s appointment until three weeks later, leading to intense speculation about strains in civil-military relations. Former Prime Minister Khan later insisted he had no intention of interfering with the army's affairs.

Local media reports have suggested that one point of contention between Khan and the military was Khan’s desire to retain General Hameed as ISI chief beyond his tenure.

General Hameed was believed to be close to Imran Khan, who appointed him as ISI chief during his tenure as premier. Khan was ousted in 2022 through a vote of no confidence, which he claims was orchestrated by the military—an allegation the military denies.

Hameed has been a controversial figure in Pakistan's political landscape over the past decade. His public profile rose significantly in November 2017 when he played a key role in ending the Faizabad dharna by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan through an agreement.

The former spymaster faced strong criticism from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who now serves as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Shehbaz Sharif, the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, is Nawaz Sharif's brother.

The initiation of a court martial against General Hameed is set to reshape the narrative surrounding Pakistan’s military and intelligence community, marking a significant chapter in the country's history.