Rawalpindi, December 11, 2025: A Field General Court Martial (FGCM) has sentenced former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after convicting him on multiple charges, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Thursday.
According to the military’s media wing, the court martial proceedings began on August 12, 2024, under the Pakistan Army Act and continued for more than 15 months. Hamid was tried on four major charges: engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act, acting against the interest and security of the state, and misuse of authority and government resources, causing wrongful loss to individuals.
“After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the accused has been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment,” the ISPR statement said. The verdict was officially promulgated on December 11, 2025.
The military clarified that the trial was conducted in full compliance with legal requirements and due process. “The FGCM complied with all legal provisions, and the accused was afforded all legal rights, including the right to a defence team of his choice,” the statement added. Hamid retains the right to appeal before the relevant forum.
The ISPR further said that Hamid’s alleged role in “fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cohorts with political elements” is being addressed separately.
Background of the case
Hamid was taken into military custody in August 2024 after being accused of abusing his authority and violating provisions of the Army Act. His arrest followed a petition filed by the CEO of the Top City housing society in the Supreme Court, alleging land grabbing and theft of valuables during a raid linked to the housing project.
Acting on the Supreme Court’s directives, the Pakistan Army conducted a detailed internal inquiry, which led to Hamid being formally charged in December 2024. The allegations included political interference, breaching the Official Secrets Act, misuse of authority, and causing financial loss to private individuals.
The inquiry also highlighted multiple violations of the Pakistan Army Act committed after Hamid’s retirement. Three other retired officers were also detained in connection with the Top City case.
Who Is Faiz Hamid?
Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid is the first former ISI chief to undergo court martial, indictment, and now sentencing — marking an unprecedented moment in Pakistan’s military history.
Hamid first gained prominence in November 2017 when he brokered an agreement between the government and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to end the 21-day Faizabad sit-in. The agreement famously ended with the line: “Signed via Major General Faiz Hamid.”
He was later promoted to lieutenant general and, in 2019, appointed Director General ISI by then prime minister Imran Khan. His tenure lasted over two years.
Allegations of political engineering, interference in governance, and pressuring political rivals consistently trailed him. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif repeatedly accused Hamid of orchestrating his ouster and manipulating the political landscape.
Hamid also drew international attention in August 2021 when his photograph having tea at a Kabul hotel — shortly after the Taliban takeover — went viral on social media. According to the ISPR, his visit was an official engagement to discuss evacuation logistics, border management, and regional security.
During the PTI tenure, he was also accused of facilitating the passage of key bills in parliament and influencing political alignments.
In 2017, former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui alleged that Hamid influenced judicial proceedings and manipulated bench formations to prolong the detention of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz — accusations that sparked intense debate at the time.
