Pakistan’s political landscape continues to be shaken by the arrest of former ISI chief General (Retd) Faiz Hameed, who is facing a court martial for alleged involvement in a housing scam. The latest development in the case is the arrest of three retired military officers, bringing the total number of arrests in connection with the case to four.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that more arrests are likely in the future. He pointed out that the investigation is not limited to the military but will extend to anyone involved in compromising national security. The minister’s comments came after the ISPR, the military’s public affairs division, announced that the three retired officers were in military custody for actions deemed prejudicial to military discipline. The ISPR also stated that they are probing additional retired officers and their associates for allegedly collaborating with a political entity to incite instability.
While the ISPR did not reveal the names of the arrested officers, media reports have identified them as Brigadier (Retd) Ghaffar, Brigadier (Retd) Naeem Fakhar, and Colonel (Retd) Asim. The arrests have been met with approval from Tarar, who expressed his support for the military’s commitment to self-accountability. He emphasized the importance of accountability and stopping discord within the country.
Tarar also alleged that Gen Faiz was in communication with former Prime Minister Imran Khan during the no-confidence motion against him and that the two remained in contact even after Khan’s imprisonment. He criticized efforts to sow discord and instability in the country, linking these efforts to security attacks.
The arrest of Gen Hameed has been described as one of the most high-profile court martials in the history of the Pakistan Army. It has broken the perception that powerful officers are above the law, particularly after Hameed led the ISI from 2019 to 2021. His arrest was the result of a complaint filed by the owner of a housing society in Islamabad, which was referred to the Defence Ministry by the Supreme Court.
Gen Hameed’s detention follows a period of tension between him and the current army chief, Lt Gen Asim Munir. He was appointed ISI chief under the previous army chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa, with whom he shared a close relationship. However, his tenure was marked by friction with Khan, who opposed his removal from the position. Hameed took premature retirement in November 2022, four months before his retirement date. His arrest and the ongoing court martial proceedings continue to dominate political discourse in Pakistan, highlighting the complex relationship between the military and political institutions.
