Lt (retd) Faiz Hameed. PHOTO: FILE
Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed has challenged the 14-year sentence handed down to him by a military court and has sought a copy of the verdict, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.
Lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq told this Express Pakinomist that the appeal was lodged with the Chief of Army Staff two days ago, while a separate application has been lodged with the Registrar of the Court of Appeal at GHQ requesting a copy of the written decision.
“The appeal has already been filed,” Ashfaq said, without disclosing the specific grounds raised in the challenge.
According to the military, Hameed was found guilty on December 11 by a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) of four charges – engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act “in a manner prejudicial to the security and interests of the state”, abusing authority and government resources and causing undue loss to individuals.
Read: Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years in prison by military court
He remains incarcerated in the Rawalpindi Special Jail and has not been moved to Adiala Jail, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Under Section 133-B of the Pakistan Army Act, an accused has 40 days from conviction to file an appeal. Hameed’s challenge will be heard by an appeals court headed by a major general or a senior officer appointed by the army chief, which can uphold, modify or set aside the verdict.
Hameed’s prosecution stems from a 2017 complaint filed by property developer Kanwar Moeez Khan. Khan alleged that Hameed, then serving as a major general in the ISI, along with two other officers, raided his residence and business premises, confiscated valuables and forced him to pay Rs 40 million while also funding a private TV channel.
The matter resurfaced in 2023 after the Supreme Court directed Khan to approach the Ministry of Defence, which subsequently launched a military inquiry. A court of inquiry set up in April 2024 found sufficient cause to proceed, leading to Hameed’s arrest on 12 August that year.
According to the military’s media wing, the FGCM proceedings began on August 12, 2024 and continued for about 15 months before the verdict was announced.
After what Inter-Services Public Relations described as “protracted and arduous proceedings”, the court found him guilty on all counts. The judgment was put into effect on 11 December 2025.
The ISPR further said that Hameed’s “engagement in encouraging political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements and in certain other matters” is being dealt with separately.
Read more: The fallen general
Hameed, who retired from the military in November 2022, became the first former ISI director general and only the second three-star general in Pakistan’s history to be convicted by a military court and sentenced to prison.
The investigation eventually included several other retired military personnel, including retired Brigadier Ghaffar, retired Brigadier Naeem Fakhar and retired Colonel Asim. However, the court’s decision did not clarify their legal status or any findings against them.
