00:00In an unprecedented development in Pakistan's history, a former chief of the country's powerful intelligence agency, the ISI, has been sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court.
00:19The Inter-Services Public Relations, the ISPR, confirmed on Thursday that Lt. Gen. Fayez Hamid was convicted after a months-long court-martial that began in August 2024.
00:34Fayez Hamid is the first ISI chief ever to face a court-martial, marking a dramatic fall for a man once considered one of the most influential figures in Pakistan's security establishment.
00:47Political observers say that Hamid's downfall began as his close relationship with former Prime Minister Imran Khan placed him at odds with Pakistan's current ruling structure, led jointly by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif.
01:06Both men have been reshaping Pakistan's political and military landscape since 2023, when Khan was arrested and jailed, and the military consolidated deeper control over civilian governance.
01:20According to the ISPR, Fayez faced four charges—endaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act in ways deemed harmful to the state, misuse of authority and government resources, and causing wrongful loss to individuals.
01:39After what officials described as lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the military court found him guilty on all counts.
01:48The sentence, which includes rigorous imprisonment, highlights the unprecedented nature of the case.
01:55Pakistan's military has long operated as the most powerful institution in the country, and intelligence chiefs have historically been shielded from public accountability.
02:05This conviction signals a sharp message within the ranks—political interference and alignment with rival power centers will not be tolerated.
02:16The ISPR also revealed that a separate inquiry against Fayez is ongoing.
02:22This second case relates to what officials call fomenting vested political agitation and instability alongside political actors.
02:31It is widely understood as an allegation that Fayez played a role in anti-military protests on May 9, 2023, when supporters of Imran Khan attacked military properties following his arrest.
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