Former chief of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed has been formally indicted on “charges of engaging in political activities”, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

“[…] And in first place Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority & government resources and causing wrongful loss to a person(s),” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The development comes almost four months after the army announced the arrest of and Field General Court Martial (FGCM) proceedings against Gen Hameed, the former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence, on allegations of violating the Army Act.

The former spymaster was taken into custody from Rawalpindi when he was summoned for a meeting by a senior military official, according to media reports.

The army arrested Hameed on allegations of violating the Army Act, it said on August 12, 2024. The move was prompted by allegations of misconduct levelled by the owner of a private housing society.

“Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry, was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd). Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act,” the ISPR had said.

It further alleged that “multiple instances of violation of Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been established.”

Last month, Journalist Javed Chaudhry told Aaj News programme Rubaroo that Hameed’s trial would be completed by March 2025. “It usually takes six to seven months,” he said when asked about the process of Field General Court Martial of Hameed. “Everything is ready, the former spymaster and witnesses are being interviewed.”

The ISPR’s Tuesday press release said: “During the process, involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (retd), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, leading up to multiple incidents including but not limited to 9th [of] May 2023 incident for fomenting instability; at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests, is also being separately investigated,” the statement noted.

The May 9 event refers to countrywide violent protests after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a corruption case from the premises of Islamabad High Court. At least 40 public buildings and military installations were damaged.

“Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (Retd) is being afforded with all legal rights as per the law. Further updates will be provided as the process unfolds,” the ISPR said.

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Former prime minister Imran Khan has already alleged a plot to move his case to a military court and accused Hameed of being used as a “pawn to fabricate” evidence against him.

Faiz Hameed’s case was sent to the army through the defence ministry, the military’s spokesperson told reporters on September 05, 2024 and added that a high-level court of inquiry was established to investigate the Top City case before initiating a field general court martial.

ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry added that if anyone uses his position in the army for his benefit or pursues a political agenda, the army’s self-accountability mechanism will spring into action.

“There is a clear consensus within the army that it is a national, state-owned institution, which must be prevented from being used against the completion of goals related to specific political agendas”.