Pak army arrests Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hameed; court martial proceedings start in Top City case

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed under the Pakistan Army Act following a detailed inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court, according to an official statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Hameed, who was taken into military custody, faces allegations of misuse of authority during his tenure as Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

According to ISPR, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

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 Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been taken into military custody.

The inquiry, led by a high-level committee headed by a major general, was constituted on April 17, 2024, to investigate the claims against Gen. Faiz. This action follows a Supreme Court order and directives from the Ministry of Defence. The allegations stem from an incident in May 2017, where ISI officials allegedly raided the residence of Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of Top City, seizing valuables, including gold and cash.

Khan accused Gen. Faiz of orchestrating the raid and claimed that ISI officials extorted Rs 4 crore in cash from him.

Despite an earlier clean chit in the Faizabad Dharna case, the army decided to pursue an inquiry after Khan’s petition was filed in the Supreme Court on November 8, 2023. The petition also involved accusations that Gen. Faiz's brother, Sardar Najaf, attempted to resolve the issue.

Given the gravity of the allegations, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, observed that the matter could potentially damage the reputation of the entire institution. The court emphasized the need for a thorough investigation and directed the Attorney General for Pakistan to ensure full cooperation.

The Pakistan Army, following the court's directive, initiated the inquiry, marking the first formal investigation against Gen. Faiz since his resignation in November 2022, four months before his retirement.