Pakistan, Islamabad – On Thursday, December 11, 2025, a Pakistani military court sentenced former intelligence chief Faiz Hameed to 14 years of hard labor. The Pakistani military described the sentence as unprecedented for a retired officer.
The verdict came after the court convicted Hamid of violating state secrets, abusing his power, and engaging in political activities. He was also charged with causing undue harm to individuals, according to an official statement from the military’s media wing. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is the second most powerful institution within the military. This makes the verdict exceptional in the country’s military and political history.
Hamid had served in his post during the tenure of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan is currently serving a prison sentence after losing the support of the military and being ousted in a no-confidence vote. Several months after his term ended, Hamid, who had been considered a potential successor to the position of Chief of Army Staff, retired. He was later charged with multiple violations of the Pakistani military code. Ultimately, he was stripped of all his military ranks.
Hamid is known for his close ties to the Afghan Taliban. Days after they seized power in August 2021, he stated that their return to power would be “a good thing.” This further fueled controversy surrounding his political connections and the independence of the intelligence agency from domestic politics.
This ruling is expected to have a significant impact on the political landscape in Pakistan, particularly given the ongoing conflicts between the civilian government and the military. The international community is also closely monitoring the implications of these decisions for internal stability and security.
