Accountability takes a new turn

In probably one of the most unprecedented turn of events, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced yesterday that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (r) Faiz Hameed was taken into custody by the army over allegations of land grabbing and snatching valuables from the owner of a private housing society. Appropriate disciplinary action has reportedly been initiated against the former spymaster under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act and “the process of Field General Court Martial has been initiated” according to the ISPR. Additionally, multiple instances of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement have also been allegedly established against the former general, who also served as Peshawar’s corps commander. The arrest was made in connection with a petition filed by a housing society’s chief executive officer (CEO) in the Supreme Court last year, wherein the former director general of ISI was accused of land grabbing and stealing valuables during a raid. A three-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa heard the matter and disposed of the petition on November 8, 2023. The bench directed the petitioner to approach the relevant forum against the retired general.

It will be no exaggeration to say that this arrest is not just unprecedented but will have far-reaching consequences as well – political included. For the longest time, the process of accountability has been tainted by – justifiable – critique that corruption and accountability seem to pass some institutions, including the military. All this while we have seen politicians being dragged through the courts – often for laughable charges. This is why Monday’s development is so big: a former ISI DG being arrested for corruption charges is a big development. Why? Because for once this is about someone other than a politician or a civilian bureaucrat. For many who have followed the past few years’ politics, and for many who have also been the victims of post-2014 politics, this latest news will also be bittersweet in more than one way. There are tales told of unprecedented levels of impunity of that time. This is possibly why there have been reactions asking why political charges are not included in the list of the former DG’s infractions. The allegations are many and evidently will need to be sifted through. For now, though, Gen Hameed is facing charges of land-grabbing etc, but there are unsubstantiated allegations of post-retirement political interventions by him as well. Whether this is true or not cannot be ascertained without evidence but the latter part of the ISPR statement talks about the arrested general’s post-retirement activities. Some see this as relating to current political goings-on, especially related to Imran Khan and his party.

It is hardly a secret that the now-arrested general was close to Imran. That said, we hope that everything done from hereon in this case is kept completely transparent so that this big step towards self-accountability passes all legal tests, and no one can raise an objection nor spin a counter-narrative. The response to these allegations also highlights the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between loyalty to individuals and loyalty to the state, and the fact that institutional integrity must always take precedence over personal affiliations. This approach is essential for building a culture of accountability and trust within the country’s institutions and a reminder that addressing serious allegations with transparency and adherence to legal norms is the way forward. At the end of the day, the message we should be looking at is: better late than never. Let accountability finally be for all.