More retired officers detained as Gen Faiz probe widens

Investigations into 'fomenting instability' underway

ISLAMABAD:

In connection with the ongoing court martial proceedings of former spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, three more retired officers were taken into custody for their actions "prejudicial to the military discipline", the military's media wing disclosed on Thursday.

"Further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement added, hinting at more arrests.

The military's media wing did not provide the names and ranks of the detained officers; however, certain reports claimed that two were retired brigadiers and one colonel. All of them were considered close confidante of former Director General of ISI, General Faiz, according to sources.

The news of more arrests came a day after Army chief General Syed Asim Munir invited retired army officers, including some former chiefs to take them into confidence about the recent actions. While former army chiefs, including General (retd) Ashfaq Pervaz Kayani and General (retd) Raheel Sharif were present at the event hosted by the incumbent army chief, certain other names including General Munir's immediate predecessor General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was conspicuous by his absence.

Some reports indicated General Bajwa was not in the country to dispel the impression that his absence had anything to do with the ongoing investigations against Gen Faiz.

The latest arrest came just days after the country's former spymaster was detained by military authorities and court martial proceedings were initiated against him on charges of corruption, misuse of authority and violating the Pakistan Army Act which is unprecedented in the country's history.

"Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army to ascertain correctness of complaints in the Top City case made against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against the retired general under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act," read a statement issued by the military's media wing on Monday.

"In addition, multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established. The process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated and Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has been taken into military custody," the statement added.

Given the powerful position of head of the ISI, it is seen as unusual that the former spymaster was not only arrested but court martial proceedings have been initiated against him. The charges against Gen Faiz dates back to May 2017 when he was DG-C in the ISI.

In April, the army constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by a major general to look into the allegations against Gen Faiz.

The inquiry was ordered in pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court and in the light of the directives of the Ministry of Defence.

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

 

Charges against Faiz

 

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

The petition filed by Moeez in the Supreme Court stated that on May 12, 2017, on the behest of General Faiz Hameed, 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 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 fact that court martial proceedings have already begun against Gen Faiz means that there is enough evidence against the former spy chief.

There are reports that Gen Faiz's activities post-retirement may implicate former prime minister Imran Khan in more cases.

The jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader on Thursday distanced himself from the ongoing court martial proceedings his Gen Faiz.

However, Khan said the former ISI chief was an "asset" who was wasted.

In an informal conversation with journalists at Adiala Jail on Thursday, he mentioned that the military is investigating General Faiz. "It's their internal matter, what do I have to do with it?"

He further added that if General Faiz Hameed was being held accountable, then everyone should be held accountable.

He also claimed that the former army chief removed General Faiz at the request of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.

Imran Khan stated that there was a heated exchange between him and General Bajwa over the removal of General Faiz Hameed.