Following the arrest of Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed, former chief of Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in connection with a housing scheme, three more retired army officers have been taken into military custody, sources told CNN-News18 on Thursday.
The men have been arrested for their “actions prejudicial to military discipline”.
According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan armed forces, further investigations of certain retired officers and their accomplices for fomenting instability at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests are continuing.
CNN-News18 earlier reported that Hameed was arrested by the military ahead of his court-martial in connection with the Top City housing scheme scandal on Monday.
ISPR said that the arrest was done after complying with orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Pakistani news media outlets said that this was the first time in the country’s history that a court-martial had been initiated against a former intelligence chief.
Hameed served as the director general of the ISI from 2019 to 2021. He was often considered close to former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan, who made him the head of the ISI during his tenure. Hameed was even accused of meddling in political affairs at his behest.
Last year, the Pakistan Supreme Court said that allegations of an “extremely serious nature” were raised against Hameed, which “cannot be left unattended”. The nation’s apex court had warned that it would undermine the reputation of the country’s institutions if these allegations were proven to be true.
“The allegations are of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the federal government, the armed forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers, therefore, they cannot be left unattended,” the court order said.
The Pakistan army then set up a committee in April to investigate allegations of misuse of authority against Hameed.
Top City’s management accused the former ISI chief of plotting a raid on the offices and residence of its owner, Moeez Khan. He was told by the apex court last year to approach the defence ministry, for the redressal of his grievances against Hameed.
Moeez alleges that Hameed conducted raids at the Top City office and Moeez’s residence, seizing valuables such as gold, diamond ornaments, and cash in connection with an alleged terrorism case, according to a petition filed in 2017.
The petition also says that Hameed’s brother Sardar Najaf mediated and tried to resolve the issue.
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