• Faiz Hameed, former ISI chief, sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court.
• Charges include violations of political neutrality and the Official Secrets Act.
• Hameed was associated with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated on various charges.

Former Pakistani spy chief, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court after a 15-month-long proceeding. The military court found him guilty on multiple charges, which included engaging in political activities and violating the Official Secrets Act, among others. This verdict is significant as it marks the first time an ISI chief has faced such consequences, reflecting a shift in the military's stance towards political involvement by its officers, according to India Times and BBC.

The court-martial proceedings were conducted under the Pakistan Army Act, which began on August 12, 2024. Hameed was tried for charges including "involvement in political activities, misuse of authority, and causing losses to individuals." He has the right to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as emphasized by the military statement, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Hameed, who was previously a close ally of the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, led the ISI from 2019 to 2021. His links to Khan, who was ousted in April 2022 and is now serving jail time for corruption, underline the complex relationship between Pakistan's military and its political landscape. The military's decision to prosecute such a high-ranking official marks a notable event in a country where senior military figures are seldom held accountable, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.