LAHORE: Tried on charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of the Official Secret Act, misuse of authority and causing wrongful loss to persons, former Pakistani spymaster, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 year rigorous imprisonment by a military court Thursday.
One of Faiz’s predecessors, Lt Gen Asad Durrani was accused in 2019 of violating Pakistan’s Military Code of Conduct for co-writing a book with an ex-RAW Chief and his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).
However, later the IHC removed Durrani’s name off the ECL, remarking that “according to the record, there was no inquiry underway at the time.” Durrani also had to stand in the dock in the infamous Mehran Bank Scam, along with former Army Chief General Aslam Beg, though none of the two were ever convicted.
Similarly, a few other Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chiefs did face local and global accusations, but were never convicted or sent behind bars. General Ziaud Din Butt was arrested in October 1999 by military forces loyal to General Musharraf, shortly after the-then Premier Nawaz Sharif had appointed him as Army Chief.
He was held in solitary confinement for two years, dismissed from service and probed. Though never court-martialed, his pension and properties were also seized during Musharraf’s regime. Nothing proved against him.
Another ISI boss, Lt Gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, had to face a court case for allegedly transferring prime Railways land in Lahore to a Malaysian firm during General Musharraf’s regime in 2001 for development of a golf course. A case was initiated for misuse of power but he was cleared by court.
Similarly, Lt Gen Javed Nasir’s custody was demanded by International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, which had accused him for helping Bosnian Army against Serbs, but government of Pakistan refused to hand General Nasir over to the UN tribunal. With his conviction, the 28th ISI chief Faiz is the second noted global intelligence chief to be awarded a court punishment this year.
Globally, many intelligence officials sitting in high positions have been found guilty of significant crimes, primarily involving corruption, misconduct or betraying their country’s national security secrets for personal gains.
