On 11 December 2025, Pakistan’s biggest news was the 14-year rigorous imprisonment given to former ISI chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed. He was convicted of involvement in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act in ways harmful to the security and interests of the state, misuse of authority and government resources, and disclosing identities of individuals. His sentence will be considered effective from 11 December 2025. Today is also a day when, by God’s will, the idol of Faiz Hameed’s immense power, arrogance, lies, and deceit has fallen face down.
Those who know Faiz Hameed closely are well aware that he was the king of lies and miscommitment. If someone sitting with him asked for the moon, he would not refuse; he would promise to place it in his hand the next day and the following day he would be making new promises to someone else. People say lying was perhaps part of his DNA.
Political analysts hold the current political and military leadership responsible for instability in the country, but the foundation of this instability was laid by Faiz Hameed in 2018 when he orchestrated blatant rigging by causing the RTS system to fail during the elections, giving PTI the most seats nationwide and forcing it upon the country.
PTI was given 14 seats in Karachi, to the extent that some of its candidates had returned home disappointed and gone to sleep, only to be woken up with the unbelievable news that they had won. Not only this, every tactic was used to make PTI win and strengthen it, while opponents were removed from the way through full use of power.
Over time, Faiz Hameed became so powerful that he was simultaneously acting as DG ISI, as a de facto Prime Minister, and as Army Chief meaning whatever he wanted, he would do, and make others do.
Faiz Hameed broke all previous records of political interference and politically motivated operations. When he signed as guarantor on the agreement to end the Faizabad sit-in of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan in his capacity as DG (C) ISI, he laid the foundation for dragging the army into politics, a burden the army still carries.
His signature on a political agreement gave documented evidence to the enemies of the military that the army was politically involved. It was the first time that a DG (C) became guarantor of a political deal, and that a military officer was seen openly distributing money among the protestors. It will take decades for the wound inflicted upon the army by Faiz Hameed to heal.
In Karachi, the way he used Pharaoh-like authority and blind power to have Maryam Nawaz arrested by breaking open her hotel room door is also part of history. He spared neither Maryam Nawaz, nor the police, nor the IG Sindh and local administration crushing anyone in his way.
This incident is a dark chapter in our history, where IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar was abducted from his residence, unlawfully detained, and forced at gunpoint to register a case against Maryam Nawaz and her husband.
Due to this misconduct, multiple senior police officers resigned, the Sindh government raised a storm, and then-Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa ordered an inquiry by Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Humayun Aziz. Senior ISI and Rangers officers were punished, but Faiz was spared, though the entire operation had been carried out on his orders. True to his nature as the king of lies, he had promised to support those officers but later threw them under the bus because he had full support of PTI founder. Should Faiz Hameed not be punished for this political interference?
Taking false credit for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return, involving the army without justification, taking a staged photo while drinking tea in Afghanistan and saying “everything will be fine” all contributed to the situation in which Afghanistan, together with India, is orchestrating terrorism in Pakistan today. Those aware of the matter say the photo was taken at Faiz Hameed’s request and released to the media covering the Afghan situation. As Peshawar Corps Commander, he brought TTP militants from Afghanistan and settled them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with safe space those same militants who are now carrying out suicide attacks against civilians and, especially, military officers, soldiers, and installations.
The list of his judicial meddling is also long. He phoned senior Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Siddiqui and instructed him to ensure convictions for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in all cases that came before him. When the judge insisted on deciding on merit, Faiz Hameed said their “years of investment” would go to waste. This “investment” was being made for the future of PTI founder. Later, he initiated references against the then-future Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and his wife, but again he failed and again dragged the army into judicial controversies, all to secure his and PTI founder’s future.
After PTI founder’s government fell, the well-organized planning of the events of May 9 fits the work of a military officer and no officer other than Faiz Hameed. Under this plan, coordinated attacks were carried out on military and sensitive installations, and martyrs’ memorials were desecrated achieving what India had long wished for.
PTI founder and Faiz Hameed imagined that these events would trigger a rebellion within the army (God forbid), that Faiz Hameed would take command, PTI founder would be released, and PTI would rule Pakistan. But the sinister plan failed, and he faced humiliation. He still has to answer for the terrorism of May 9, including attacks on military installations and desecration of martyrs’ monuments. For Faiz Hameed, the “party” has only just begun.
Despite giving PTI 14 rigged seats in Karachi in 2018, when PTI founder still could not firmly establish himself, Faiz pressured Mustafa Kamal of PSP in 2019 to merge his party with PTI, offering major political benefits. At that time, the governor Imran Ismail was a witness to it. It was the same Imran Ismail who leaked the details of the Dubai meeting held for the political alliance between PTI and PSP, causing the plan to fail before it began. PSP did not even have a single MPA, let alone real political power, but PTI had no one in terms of character, organization, or performance who could match Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani. Yet again, Faiz faced humiliation, as both leaders rejected him, saying they would dissolve their party but never merge with PTI.
After the disastrous monsoon rains of 2019 and 2020 in Karachi, when political criticism shifted from PPP to PTI founder, it was once again Faiz Hameed who stepped in for rescue. He disgraced the office of DG ISI by presiding over committees formed to fix storm drains, gutters, and roads.
During this period, he identified valuable lands around the Malir and Lyari riverbeds and tempted builders with high-rise construction opportunities. But fate did not give him time; otherwise he might have disposed of lands along both riverbanks as well.
Talking about Faiz Hameed’s misdeeds is incomplete without mentioning fugitive real estate tycoon Malik Riaz. Those close to Malik Riaz consider Faiz his most trusted “employee.” From land grabbing to silencing opponents to money laundering Faiz used his institution and authority to handle all essential tasks for Malik Riaz. If investigated, Faiz Hameed’s name would emerge behind the trillions in money laundering.
It is also known that when Malik Riaz’s daughter caught her husband with another woman, she invoked the name of Faiz’s institution, saying, “Where are those people who are supposed to inform us?” Despite Supreme Court orders, Malik Riaz did not deposit 460 billion rupees into the national treasury again due to Faiz’s protection. Malik Riaz was the only visitor who could meet PTI founder at Bani Gala without entry record.
It is also perhaps not known to many that Faiz Hameed used the weapon of honey traps to defame and entangle political figures and military officers. For this purpose, he used several women he was acquainted with.
There have also been reports that Faiz Hameed falsely implicated the relatives of former military officers who refused to support him in his wrongdoing. He still has to answer for these actions as well.
These are only a few of the political, judicial, and public-harming exploits of the convicted criminal Faiz Hameed because of which Pakistan is suffering intolerance, instability, political and judicial chaos, and border tensions. In all this, PTI founder is equally complicit with Faiz Hameed.
Therefore, after Faiz Hameed, PTI founder should also prepare for severe punishments. By taking tough action against its highest-ranking officer after transparent investigation and impartial legal proceedings, the army has sent a clear message to internal elements destabilizing the country, no one will be spared.
The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect policy of BOL News.
