Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Arrested Over Land Development Case

Retired General Faiz Hameed, former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been arrested in a land development case. This high-profile detention, ordered by the Supreme Court, marks an uncommon event in Pakistan's history. Hameed served as ISI head from 2019 to 2021 and was notably visible during the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

Pakistan's military announced on Monday that it had detained retired General Faiz Hameed, the former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in relation to a land development case.

The detention of such a high-profile figure is a rarity in Pakistan, where the military has ruled for over 30 of the 77 years since the country's independence and retains significant influence. According to a statement from the military, the Supreme Court ordered the arrest, citing multiple violations of the Pakistan Army Act following Hameed's retirement.

"The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been taken into military custody," the statement revealed. Attempts to reach Hameed for comments were unsuccessful.

Hameed, who served as the director general of the ISI from 2019 to 2021, gained international attention when he was seen in a Kabul hotel lobby following the Taliban's rise to power after the withdrawal of U.S. and other Western forces in 2021. Notably, the ISI has long been accused by Washington of supporting the Taliban during the U.S.-led military presence in Afghanistan starting from 2001.

As ISI chief, Hameed was considered the second most potent military officer in Pakistan, next to the army chief, and was known for his close ties with Imran Khan, Pakistan's former Prime Minister. Khan, who appointed Hameed to lead the ISI, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, a move he claims was orchestrated by the military, though the military denies these allegations.

Local media reports suggest that Khan's efforts to retain Hameed as ISI chief post-tenure played a part in his fallout with the military.

(With inputs from agencies.)