Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed faces army inquiry

Panel to probe former spy master for misuse of authority

ISLAMABAD:

The army on Wednesday constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by a major general to look into the allegations against Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed that he as Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general misused his authority.

The inquiry has been ordered in pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court and in the light of the directives of the Ministry of Defence, according to the people familiar with the development.

This is the first formal inquiry ordered against Gen Faiz, who resigned in November 2022, four months before his retirement date.

Faiz served as DG C in the ISI and later headed the spy agency. His name surfaced in many controversies, including the Faizabad Dharna case. Three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif named him and Gen Bajwa as the main characters behind his removal through a Supreme Court order.

While Faiz was given a clean chit in the Faizabad Dharna case by an inquiry commission, the army decided to investigate him months after an owner of the housing society accused him of illegally raiding his residence and stealing valuables.

Sources said Pakistan Army has decided to investigate all the cases through a high-level institutional inquiry, furthering its accountability process. “A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted under a Major General, which will look at every aspect related to this matter in detail,” sources said.

“There is a strict and highly transparent system of self-accountability in Pakistan Army and by promoting this system, all such allegations are investigated with great seriousness and those responsible are also given severe punishment so that the self-accountability of the Pakistan Army is maintained.”

On November 8, 2023, Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which he accused Faiz of misusing his authority.

The petition filed by in the Supreme Court stated that on May 12, 2017, on the behest of Gen Faiz, ISI officials raided the top city office and his house. During the raid, valuables, including gold, diamonds and money, were seized from the house by ISI officials, the petitioner alleged.

The petition also stated that Sardar Najaf, the brother of Faiz, also contacted him to resolve the issue later.

The petition also claimed that Gen Faiz later personally met him to resolve the issue, in which he assured that some of the items which had been taken away by the ISI officials during the raid would be returned. However, 400 tolas of gold and cash will not be returned to him.

The petitioner also alleged that the ISI officials extorted Rs4 crore cash from him.

Considering the sensitivity of the matter and in view of these serious allegations, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, which included Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice Attar Minullah and Justice Aminuddin, heard the case.

The Supreme Court observed this was a very serious matter and the serious nature of allegations may damage the image of the entire institution, therefore the matter cannot be ignored. The Supreme Court asked the attorney general to look into the matter and discuss with the relevant authorities.

The Attorney General for Pakistan assured the apex court that full cooperation will be given to the matter and action will be taken according to law.

Following the direction, the army has constituted the inquiry committee to look into the matter.

Also read: Agencies given clean chit in Faizabad sit-in probe