The Pakistan Army has announced a court martial against former ISI chief and Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed under the Army Act, which is being hailed as a watershed moment in Pakistan’s political and military history. Because, at this level, the Pakistan Army has rarely court-martialed a former general.
According to an ISPR press release, General (Retd) Faiz Hameed will face a court martial under the Army Act. The army has arrested them. Aside from Pakistan, this news was not only taken seriously around the world, but it was also surprising given the history of the Pakistan Army and the political tensions in Pakistan. Rather, as chief of Pakistan’s Supreme Intelligence Agency, he has been the subject of international news and commentary. There are numerous reasons for his popularity.
First, during Imran Khan’s government, he negotiated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan without the opinion or consent of other mainstream political parties, transferring thousands of these fighters from Afghanistan to Pakistan, resulting in a record increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
The second time he was heavily criticized was when the democratic process of overthrowing Imran Khan’s administration culminated in him siding with Imran Khan against the Pakistan Army, and later news surfaced that he was not only involved in election preparation and lobbying. Rather, they are influencing pro-PTI circles within the Pakistan Army.
This scenario or perception, in addition to his personality, called into doubt the discipline of Pakistan’s formidable army, and action was demanded against him for violating discipline. In addition to these two significant allegations, he was accused of abusing power, including the Top City Housing Society affair, which was heard by the Supreme Court.
In light of all of this, it is fair to say that Pakistan’s military establishment is pursuing a policy of going to any length on some issues and will now “lay hands” on all sectors and sections that have been engaged on multiple fronts against the government. These include the specific party responsible for May 9, which also used Faiz Hameed for its own goals.