[:en]NEWS DESK
Former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has been taken into custody military as a disciplinary action is initiated against him.
The Pakistan Army has initiated the process of a Field General Court Martial (FGCM) to address charges brought against the retired officer.
This development comes as part of the military’s internal accountability mechanism.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, complying with the orders of Supreme Court, a detailed court of inquiry was done by the Army to know the correctness of complaints against Hameed in the Top City Case.
Consequently, a disciplinary action is initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of Pakistan Army Act, it added.
In addition, ISPR said, multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post-retirement had also been established.
Earlier this year, the Pakistan Army said it initiated an inquiry against the retired general in response to allegations raised by the owner of Top City society.
Sources privy to the development said the army constituted an inquiry committee, chaired by a major general, to investigate the accusations against Faiz Hameed. The probe was made under the directives from the Supreme Court.
The petitioner claimed that in May 2017, Pakistan Rangers and ISI officials raided the society’s office and a resident’s home, seizing valuables including gold, diamonds, and cash in connection with a terrorism case.
According to the petitioner, efforts were made by Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother to mediate the situation following an acquittal. Subsequently, Hameed purportedly communicated through a brigadier, offering to return some items seized during the raid, but retaining a significant portion of gold and cash.
Furthermore, the petitioner alleged coercion by retired ISI officials to pay a substantial sum of cash and sponsor a private television network. Names of other individuals allegedly involved in the affair were also mentioned in the petition.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that the matter had been previously addressed by the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court, and that former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar had ordered the destruction of relevant records. The Supreme Court, however, suggested that the petitioner pursue the matter through appropriate channels, indicating that civil or criminal courts could address allegations of malicious prosecution.[:]