His tenure as DG ISI from 2019 to 2021 brought him into international focus when he was photographed in a Kabul hotel lobby shortly after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, caused international uproars
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: A key ally of ex-prime minister Imran Khan and the then Intel Chief, Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed has long been a central figure in Pakistan’s military and political realms. Appointed as the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) by Khan, Hameed was widely regarded as the second most influential military officer in Pakistan, following the Chief of Army Staff.
Hameed’s career has been marked by both prominence and controversy. Prior to his appointment as Bahawalpur Corps Commander, he served in the same capacity in Peshawar. His influence extended across various facets of Pakistan’s political and military landscape over the past decade. Hameed first gained significant public attention in November 2017 when he played a crucial role in resolving the Faizabad sit-in led by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan through a negotiated settlement.
This intervention led to a Supreme Court suo motu notice in February 2019, mandating the ISI and Inter-Services Public Relations to strictly adhere to their official mandates. His tenure as DG ISI from 2019 to 2021 brought him into international focus when he was photographed in a Kabul hotel lobby shortly after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and Western forces. Hameed’s appointment came after the abrupt removal of then-ISI Chief General Asim Munir, who reportedly presented evidence implicating Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and close aide Farah Gogi in corruption.
This event fueled speculation and reports that Khan intended for Hameed to succeed General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa as Army Chief upon Bajwa’s retirement in November 2022. Hameed was among the six generals whose names were forwarded by GHQ to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for consideration for the top military position in 2022. Following Khan’s ouster through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022, the former prime minister claimed that his removal was orchestrated by the military, a claim the military has denied.
Khan subsequently launched a campaign of defiance against the military, which culminated in his arrest in May 2023 on graft charges. His arrest triggered nationwide protests, which saw unprecedented violence and anger directed at military installations. The crackdown on Khan’s party, despite its strong performance in February’s general elections as independent candidates, underscores the ongoing turbulence in Pakistan’s political sphere, with Hameed’s role and influence remaining a significant part of this complex narrative.
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