IN a sign of the times, the once all-powerful spymaster is facing court-martial proceedings. Retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed is being charged for misuse of authority and violating the Army Act. It is for the first time in the country’s history that a former ISI chief has been arrested and will stand trial for a serious crime. The timing of this action against him is curious. But more important is the message being conveyed.

A highly controversial former intelligence chief, Lt-Gen Hameed had been under the spotlight for quite some time even when he was in service. But perhaps no one expected him to be arrested and face court martial. While he is being investigated in connection with a housing scheme scandal, allegations pertaining to unspecified activities post-retirement appear more serious.

There is also speculation that he might be implicated in the May 9 incident. To many, his close association with the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan is seen as a reason behind his arrest. It may also seem to some as a politically motivated case instead of what is being described as one driven by the military’s ‘tough internal accountability process’.

Interestingly, the development came amidst a worsening stand-off between the military-backed ruling coalition and the PTI-led opposition. Speculations of a former intelligence chief being involved in violent protests that targeted military installations will not only heighten political tensions but also have implications for the security establishment. The arrest raises questions about the establishment’s deep involvement in Pakistan’s politics and the unchecked power that intelligence chiefs wield.

Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed became the face of political manipulation.

Faiz Hameed has been in the limelight since 2017 as a two-star general and DG-C ISI during the TLP’s Faizabad dharna, which paralysed the capital for weeks. The footprint of the intelligence agency in orchestrating the protest was apparent to most. A damning Supreme Court ruling in the dharna case reinforced these allegations, with an extremist religious group storming the capital, apparently to undermine the civilian administration.

Interestingly, Lt-Gen Hameed was also a signatory to the controversial deal that ended the dharna. It is hard to recall another instance of a senior intelligence official involved in brokering a deal between the government and extremists challenging the writ of the state. Many have pointed out that it could not have done so without the approval of the military leadership at that time. Not surprisingly, the clerics went back home triumphant, after paying rich tributes to the then army chief for his arbitration. The footage widely telecast on private TV channels of the Punjab Rangers chief distributing cash to the protesters and allowing them to take selfies with him was distressing.

Lt-Gen Hameed became the face of such political manipulation, including the alleged engineering of the 2018 election results that brought Imran Khan to power. It was also in 2017 that he was allegedly involved in the Top City housing society scandal. He was accused of orchestrating raids on the offices and residence of the owner of the housing scheme.

This would indeed constitute criminal misuse of authority but there was no ‘internal accountability process’ initiated against him then. Instead, he was elevated to the three-star rank and appointed ISI chief. He was all-powerful during Imran Khan’s government. The former prime minister later admitted that he relied on the intelligence apparatus for everything — from propping up a fragile coalition government to taming the opposition. That was the reason that Imran Khan didn’t want Faiz Hameed to leave his post.

But the general was not unique. Historically, the office of spy chief in the country makes any incumbent all-powerful. Most previous chiefs have also been accused of political engineering. In fact, the suppression of the opposition is more pronounced today.

Faiz Hameed reflected what has been taking place within the security establish-ment, which has been increasingly involved in a game of thrones. His case is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg.

The claim of internal accountability process can be debated. For seven years, no action was taken against the general in the housing scandal despite the evidence against him. It was only following Supreme Court directives that an investigation was initiated. By then, he had taken early retirement after having lost the race for the position of army chief. The situation would have been completely different had he got the coveted position.

It is apparent that it was, what the ISPR statement referred to as his post retirement activities, that led to the former ISI chief’s arrest and initiation of court-martial proceedings against him. The military must specify the activities which he indulged in and that violated the Army Act to stop speculation about his differences with the current army leadership.

For sure, there must be no tolerance for the breach of law and misuse of power. But the application of the law must not be selective. A major issue here is the establishment’s deep involvement in the country’s politics. Faiz Hameed is a product of the system that allowed him sweeping powers. For instance, it has been asked why military spokesmen should issue political statements and why media representatives should be told what they can and cannot publish.

In a recent public address, the army chief is reported to have declared that he did not consider anyone a Pakistani who did not believe in the Sharia and the Constitution. The question to ask is whether the security establishment, in accordance with constitutional provisos, refrains from meddling in politics.

What we are witnessing today is the establishment’s dominance in a civilian set-up. The leaders of the ruling coalition who are hailing the decision to initiate court-martial proceedings against the former ISI chief do not mind leaning on the establishment to survive in power. This may come back to haunt them.

The writer is an author and journalist.

zhussain100@yahoo.com

X: @hidhussain

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024