Pakistan Arrests Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed, Signaling Tough Stance on Imran Khan

In an unprecedented move, Pakistan’s army has arrested Faiz Hameed, the former head of the country’s powerful spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Hameed, a retired Lieutenant General who led the ISI from 2019 to 2021, was taken into custody on Monday to face a military court martial. The charges against him are related to a property case and allegations of engaging in banned political activities after his retirement, according to the military.

This marks the first time in Pakistan’s 77-year history that a former spymaster has been arrested, a significant development given the ISI’s notorious influence over the nation’s domestic politics. The agency is widely believed to have played a key role in both installing and toppling previous governments.

“The arrest of the former intelligence chief indicates that the current army leadership is convinced that [Hameed’s] post-retirement conduct and behavior violated Pakistan’s interests and army laws, discipline, and rules,” said Syed Muhammad Ali, a security expert based in Islamabad. “It is also a clear signal to all politicians that no one is above the law,” he added.

Hameed’s arrest is seen as a direct warning to jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, with whom he was closely allied. Khan, who was ousted from office in 2022 and arrested last year on charges including graft and leaking state secrets, has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

Following Khan’s arrest, his supporters allegedly attacked military installations across Pakistan, leading to a crackdown by the army. Dozens of individuals linked to these incidents are currently being tried, and the military-backed government has accused Khan of inciting the attacks.

Political analyst Sabookh Syed suggests that Hameed’s arrest is a message to Khan that he should not expect leniency. “This is a clear message for Khan that if the army is not letting its former general [go unpunished], then the same will be the case for Imran Khan,” Syed said.

The army has reportedly asked Khan to apologize for the attacks on military installations, but he has refused so far. The arrest of Hameed, Pakistan’s former “intelligence czar,” has dampened the hopes of those who believed the army might show leniency or mercy towards politicians involved in the recent unrest, according to experts.

Hameed gained international attention in 2021 when he was seen drinking tea in a Kabul hotel lobby shortly after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. His presence there was symbolic, given long-standing accusations by Washington that the ISI had supported the Taliban during the U.S.-led occupation of Afghanistan.