‘No one is above the law’, journalists, politicians welcome Faiz Hameed verdict

Political leaders and senior journalists on Thursday hailed the military court’s verdict against former DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retd) as a “historic” development, calling it a clear confirmation that illegal activities would no longer go unchecked and describing the verdict as a victory for truth and justice.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the ruling demonstrated that the military’s system of self-responsibility remained “extremely strong”, noting that Hameed had served as a political adviser to the PTI and crossed red lines that warranted legal action.

“No one is above the law,” he said, adding that the decision was based on evidence recorded during the case and that Hameed was given full opportunity to defend himself.

Read: Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years in prison by military court

Tarar said Hameed had abused his authority and was found guilty on all charges, including in the Top City case, adding that further investigations into political affairs would continue. The minister reiterated his stance, saying the verdict underscored the robustness of military accountability, again calling the outcome “a triumph of truth.”

OPP terms judge “historic”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also welcomed the decision, describing it as a historic verdict that confirmed Hameed’s involvement in illegal activities.

Speaking to reporters in Chiniot, he noted that while the verdict was significant, several additional cases against Hameed were still pending. He said the former general would have options for appeal, however.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said in a statement on X that the country continued to “harvest the harvest of the seeds sown for years by Faiz Hameed and General Bajwa.” He prayed for wisdom and restraint in the use of power, saying that those who rule must be guided by the fear of God.

Prominent journalist Kamran Khan wrote on X that for the first time a DG ISI had been punished for “betraying his oath”, adding that the “system” associated with Hameed had been operating unchecked with the full knowledge of then Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Political commentator Nadeem Farooq Paracha said that Hameed had used his position to cultivate a network of politicians, journalists and judges, and claimed that the expectation of a “revolution” on 9 May 2023 was shaped by this network. “The mark set by him has now been dismantled. How the mighty fall,” he remarked.

Senior journalist Hamid Mir said Hameed had dictated the media during his time in uniform and tried to get him removed from journalism. He added that he was banned from television and newspapers for nine months. “He has now been sentenced for 14 years. Twenty-seven witnesses appeared in his case. There are more to come,” he said.

Journalist Mubashir Zaidi called the life sentence of the former ISI chief for involvement in politics “a good start” and said there should be no room for military interference in political affairs.

Senator Faisal Vawda has said that the sentence handed down to the former DG ISI is part of a long and ongoing process of justice that “will not stop”, adding that the May 9 cases are still pending and that the political party involved “can already see its fate written on the wall.”

Vawda said his earlier claim had been proven correct – that the former intelligence chief would receive 14 years of rigorous imprisonment instead of a death sentence. He added that the May 9 cases remain unresolved and relate to incidents that he said caused damage to the state, politics, judiciary and democracy, including alleged attempts to control the media.

He said the judgment reinforces the principle that “no one is greater than Pakistan” and marks the establishment of a clear precedent of accountability.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said Hameed was an employee of a state institution and any punishment awarded to him is an internal matter of that institution.

He further commented and reiterated that Hameed’s case was purely an internal institutional matter and should be treated as such. He made the remarks after being stopped by the Rawalpindi police at Dhamial check post while on his way to Adiala Jail.

The military court sentences Faiz Hameed to 14 years

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed has been sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment. He was charged with four counts: involvement in political activities, violations of the Official Secrets Act to the detriment of state security, abuse of authority and government resources, and causing unlawful harm to individuals.

The ISPR said Hameed was found guilty on all counts after a lengthy legal process. The sentence handed down on Thursday followed a court-martial that began on August 12, 2024 under the Pakistan Army Act and continued for 15 months. The spokesman said the accused was given full legal rights, including the choice of counsel, and retains the right to appeal.

The ISPR added that matters related to political agitation and instability, as well as other matters involving Hameed, were being dealt with separately.