Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
Former ISI chief Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed has challenged the 14-year sentence imposed on him by a military court and has requested a copy of the sentence, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.
Lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq said The express PAkGazette that the appeal was submitted to the army chief two days ago, while a separate application was submitted to the clerk of the Headquarters Court of Appeal seeking a copy of the written decision.
“The appeal has already been filed,” Ashfaq said, without revealing 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) on four charges: engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act “in a manner prejudicial to the security and interests of the State,” misuse of government authority and resources, and causing unjustified losses to individuals.
Read: Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years in prison by military court
According to officials familiar with the matter, he remains detained in Rawalpindi Special Prison and has not been transferred to Adiala Jail.
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 a Court of Appeal chaired by a major general or a senior officer appointed by the army chief, who may confirm, modify or overturn the sentence.
Hameed’s prosecution stems from a 2017 complaint filed by property developer Kanwar Moeez Khan. Khan claimed that Hameed, who was then serving as a major general in the ISI, along with two other officers, raided his residence and business premises, seized valuables and forced him to pay Rs 40 million while also funding a private television channel.
The matter resurfaced in 2023 after the Supreme Court ordered Khan to approach the Ministry of Defence, which subsequently launched a military investigation. A court of inquiry constituted in April 2024 found sufficient grounds to proceed, leading to Hameed’s arrest on August 12 that year.
According to army media, the FGCM process began on August 12, 2024 and continued for about 15 months before the verdict was announced.
After what Inter-Services Public Relations described as “long and laborious legal proceedings,” the court found him guilty on all charges. The ruling came into force on December 11, 2025.
The ISPR further said that Hameed’s “involvement in fomenting 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 army in November 2022, became the first former ISI director general and the second three-star general in Pakistan’s history to be tried by a military court and sentenced to prison.
The investigation eventually covered several other retired military personnel, including retired Brigadier General Ghaffar, retired Brigadier General Naeem Fakhar and retired Colonel Asim. However, the court’s decision did not clarify his legal situation or any conclusions against him.
