The untouchable veil surrounding Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus was pierced Thursday as a military court handed a 14-year prison sentence to General Faiz Hameed, the country’s former spy chief. It is a verdict that reverberates far beyond Islamabad, marking the first time a head of the feared Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been court-martialled and jailed.

This judgment represents a watershed moment for the nuclear-armed nation, shattering the historic impunity enjoyed by its security establishment. For the first time, the military has turned on one of its own top commanders, accusing him of political meddling—a charge that resonates deeply in democracies worldwide grappling with the delicate balance between civilian rule and the “deep state.”

The Fall of a Kingmaker

General Hameed, who steered the ISI from 2019 to 2021, was widely perceived as the architect behind the tenure of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. In Pakistan’s hierarchy, the ISI chief is often regarded as the second most powerful figure in the land, wielding influence that frequently eclipses that of elected officials. Hameed’s fall from this pinnacle to a prison cell is absolute.

He took early retirement in 2022, shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote, a move analysts interpreted as a strategic retreat. However, the military’s internal accountability mechanism, which rarely exposes its workings to the public, caught up with him. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, confirmed that the 15-month trial concluded this week.

Charges of Betrayal

The court-martial, which began on August 12, 2024, did not treat Hameed’s actions as mere administrative oversights. The charges strike at the heart of national security and governance. According to the ISPR, Hameed was found guilty of:

• Political Interference: Active involvement in political activities forbidden for serving officers.
• State Secrets Violation: Breaching the Official Secrets Act in a manner that harmed state interests.
• Abuse of Office: Misusing government resources and authority for personal or political ends.
• Harm to Citizens: Specific actions that caused detriment to ordinary civilians.

For Kenyan observers watching the global stage, the development offers a stark case study in institutional accountability. While details of the “harm to citizens” remain classified, the admission by the Pakistani military that its resources were misused for political engineering is a rare moment of transparency.

Hameed’s legal team has indicated they will not accept the verdict lying down. His lawyer confirmed plans to appeal, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle. Yet, the message from the barracks is unambiguous: the old rules of immunity no longer apply, and the line between the soldier and the statesman is being redrawn with an iron hand.