Faiz Hameed: The former ISI chief embroiled in Top City case

Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed was appointed as the chief of the ISI in June 2019. According to the Pakistani daily Dawn, in November 2022, his name was among six senior generals proposed by General Headquarters for two top military positions, which were sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval.

Prior to his role as Bahawalpur corps commander, Hameed served in the same capacity in Peshawar. Over the past decade, he has been a controversial figure in Pakistan’s political landscape.

Hameed first gained significant public attention in November 2017 when he played a key role in resolving the Faizabad dharna led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan through a negotiated settlement. Following this, the Supreme Court issued a suo motu notice in February 2019, instructing that the ISI, Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence, and Inter-Services Public Relations “must not exceed their respective mandates.”

He faced strong criticism from PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, who accused him of influencing their convictions and supporting the previous PTI government.

Hameed retired prematurely in November 2022, just four months before his scheduled retirement, coinciding with changes in the army’s top leadership. His close association with then-Army chief General Qamar Bajwa adds further significance to his recent arrest and ongoing court martial proceedings.

What is the Top City Case?

This unprecedented arrest of Hameed by the Pakistan Army was announced on Monday and is connected to a high-profile housing scheme scandal known as the Top City case.

The Top City case came into the spotlight on November 8, 2023, when Moeez Ahmed Khan, the owner of the Top City housing development, filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Khan accused Hameed of gross misuse of authority, alleging that in 2017, at Hameed’s behest, ISI officials raided his office and residence. During these raids, valuables including gold, diamonds, and cash were seized, and Hameed allegedly extorted Rs 4 crore from Khan. The petition also claimed that Hameed’s brother, Sardar Najaf, later contacted Khan to resolve the matter, and that Hameed himself personally intervened in the case.

In response to these allegations, the Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Defence to investigate. In April 2024, the Pakistan Army formed a high-level inquiry committee, led by a major general, to scrutinize the charges. The inquiry confirmed multiple violations of the Pakistan Army Act by Hameed post-retirement, leading to his arrest and the initiation of Field General Court Martial proceedings.

The Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department issued a statement detailing the investigation process and confirming that Hameed had been taken into military custody. The statement emphasized that the army was complying with the Supreme Court’s orders and taking appropriate disciplinary action under the Pakistan Army Act.