Former Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed has been taken into military custody and the process of field general court martial has been initiated against him concerning the Top City housing scheme scandal, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

“Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain the correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

Appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against the former spymaster under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

“In addition, multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established,” it said.

In April, an inquiry committee was formed against Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid ater a request from the owner of a private housing society. He was accused of misuse use of authority in the housing society.

Sources told Aaj News that the committee would investigate allegations of the misuse of powers in the Top City housing society and prepare a report. It was formed in light of the directives of the higher judiciary.

The committee was headed at the senior level by a major general. It was reported that the panel would present its recommendations to the authorities once the allegations were proven.

Last year, the Supreme Court said that allegations against the former spy chief were of an “extremely serious nature” and “cannot be left unattended”.

“The allegations are of an extremely serious nature, and if true, undoubtedly would undermine the reputation of the Federal Government, the Armed Forces, ISI and Pakistan Rangers,” the apex court said in the written order for the November 8 hearing of the petition filed by Moeez Ahmed Khan.

A three-member bench of the SC on November 8 disposed of a petition accusing Lt Gen Hameed (retd) of abduction and land grabbing without getting into the merits of the case. The bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aminuddin Khan, took up a petition filed by Moeez Ahmed Khan.

The petitioner’s lawyer had told the court that Khan was abducted along with five members of his family by the former spymaster on May 12, 2017. He accused the retired general of taking land in return for their release.

The petitioner requested the court to order the Ministry of defence to take action against Gen Hameed (retd). The bench disposed of the petition and told the petitioner to approach other forums.

In a press conference on May 7, ISPR Director General Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif spoke about the military’s self-accountability process.

“Self-accountability in the military is a rigorous, strict, transparent and automatic process that is ongoing at all times,” said the military’s spokesperson.

“The higher the rank, the greater the responsibility,” the DG ISPR said, “we take pride in our accountability system.”

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He spoke about the military’s “strict and transparent accountability” processes, where officers are held responsible commensurate with their rank and position.

Last year, the army had sacked three army officers, including a lieutenant general, from their jobs as a part of the military’s “self-accountability process” into the events of May 9. The DG ISPR had told media that 17 standing military courts were functioning in which the “trial of 102 miscreants is underway and this process will continue”.