ISLAMABAD: Former DG ISI Lt. Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed’s lawyer has confirmed to Dawn that an appeal has been filed against the sentence passed by the military court. Lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq confirmed the appeal but declined to divulge details.
Faiz Hameed was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment by a military court on December 11 after being found guilty on four charges of violating secrecy laws, engaging in political activities, misusing authority and causing harm to others.
After being sentenced and sentenced under Section 133B of the Pakistan Army Act, he had 40 days to file an appeal against the decision of the Field General Court Martial.
The appeal is first heard in a Court of Appeals, headed by a Major General or higher, nominated by the Army Chief. The Army Chief then has the power to confirm, modify or cancel the sentence.
A look at history shows that the military appeal process has been a long one for many years.
Read More: Former DG ISI Faiz Hameed sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment
Faiz Hameed’s sentence
While pronouncing the sentence on December 11, 2025, the Army Public Relations Department had said in a statement that the Field General Court Martial proceedings against Faiz Hameed were initiated on August 12, 2024 under the Pakistan Army Act, which lasted for more than 15 months. After a long legal process, the accused was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.
According to the ISPR, the convicted officer’s alleged involvement in creating political chaos and instability in collaboration with political elements and some other matters are being looked into separately. The ISPR statement referred to him as ‘Mr Faiz Hameed, former Lieutenant General’, which created the impression that his military rank may have been withdrawn, however, the ISPR did not explicitly confirm this.
Background
Faiz Hameed retired in November 2022 and is the first former DG ISI and second three-star general in Pakistan’s history to be sentenced to imprisonment after a full military trial.
The case originated from allegations by property developer Kanwar Moiz Khan, who claimed that in 2017, then Major General Faiz Hameed and two other officers raided his house and offices, seized valuables and forced him to pay Rs 40 million and finance a private TV channel. The matter resurfaced in 2023 when the Supreme Court advised the complainant to pursue legal action through the Ministry of Defence, following which a formal military inquiry was initiated.
Although the Army Act generally allows for action within six months of retirement, military jurisdiction was extended in this case under Section 2D, while Sections 31 and 40 allow for court-martial without time limit in cases such as mutiny, disobedience or fraud relating to property.
In April 2024, the Court of Inquiry recommended action, following which Faiz Hameed was taken into custody on August 12. He was later given a detailed charge sheet that included allegations of political activities after retirement, violations of the Official Secrets Act, abuse of power including the 2017 raid, and causing financial loss through alleged coercion against Kanwar Moez.
The scope of the investigation was also extended to other retired officers, including Brigadier (retired) Ghaffar, Brigadier (retired) Naeem Fakhar and Colonel (retired) Asif, however, the final findings of the military court regarding them were not stated in the decision.
