The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday that three retired military officers have been taken into military custody as part of ongoing court martial proceedings against former spymaster Lt. Gen. (Retd) Faiz Hameed. The ISPR stated that these officers are being detained for actions deemed “prejudicial to military discipline.” The arrests come amid allegations that Hameed, a former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), misused his authority in connection with a private housing society scandal.
The ISPR has not disclosed the names or ranks of the three retired officers, nor when they were taken into custody. This development follows the unprecedented arrest of Gen. Hameed, who was taken into custody earlier this week in Rawalpindi after being summoned by a senior military official. The arrest is seen as a significant move, challenging the long-standing perception that former spy chiefs are untouchable in Pakistan.
The controversy surrounding Gen. Hameed began with a Supreme Court directive in November 2023, instructing the owner of Top City housing society, Kanwar Moeez Khan, to seek redress through the Ministry of Defence and other relevant channels. This directive led to an investigation by a military inquiry committee into allegations of misconduct by Gen. Hameed. The inquiry committee, formed as a gesture of self-accountability within the military, is headed by a serving major general.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar lauded the military’s steps towards accountability, describing the arrests as part of a broader effort to maintain discipline and prevent instability in the country. He hinted that more arrests could follow as investigations continue. Tarar also alleged that Gen. Hameed had been in communication with former Prime Minister Imran Khan during the time of the no-confidence motion against Khan, suggesting political collusion.
The arrests have been welcomed by various political figures, including Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, who stated that these actions demonstrate the involvement of certain political and military figures in spreading discord and instability in Pakistan.
Gen. Hameed has been a controversial figure in Pakistan’s political landscape, with allegations of his involvement in various scandals and political maneuvers over the years. His early retirement in November 2022 and subsequent legal troubles have kept him in the public eye. The ongoing investigation into his conduct, as well as the broader implications for Pakistan’s military and political spheres, continues to unfold.
