How the Former Spymaster Allegedly Operated Like an Underworld Don

Senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir has made explosive revelations, claiming that former ISI officer General Faiz Hameed operated less like a spy chief and more like an underworld don between 2019 and 2021. During this period, he allegedly accumulated vast sums of illicit wealth, investing nearly Rs 30 billion into secret business ventures—details of which have reportedly been recovered from his personal diary.

A Diary Exposes Rs 30 Billion in Secret Investments

According to Mir, while Pakistanis have heard countless stories of political corruption, the scandal surrounding Faiz Hameed stands apart due to its sheer scale and brazenness.

During a private gathering, a businessman recounted his own ordeal from 2021: a fabricated case was lodged against him, followed by a personal call from Faiz Hameed. The officer then allegedly demanded Rs 5 billion in cash to “resolve” the matter.

Participants claimed Faiz maintained a meticulous diary logging his illicit earnings and investments. He would reportedly hand large sums to trusted “partners” who placed the money into housing schemes and business projects—all without bank transfers or written agreements. One of these partners is now said to be pushing for a long prison sentence for Faiz to prevent him from reclaiming his billions.

How Faiz Hameed Allegedly Rose Through Power Networks

Mir’s sources claim the former spymaster’s controversial rise began in 2016. After General Qamar Javed Bajwa became Army Chief through then–Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Faiz was appointed DG Counter-Intelligence in the ISI in January 2017, reportedly on the recommendation of his influential father-in-law, Ijaz Amjad.

From there, Faiz allegedly became Bajwa’s key operator—managing political engineering on one hand, and safeguarding Bajwa’s personal interests on the other. With access to sensitive intelligence, Faiz learned the vulnerabilities of several politicians, making it easier to coerce or control them behind closed doors.

The Bajwa–Faiz Nexus and the Ousting of Nawaz Sharif

Mir claims that General Bajwa and Faiz jointly conspired to remove Nawaz Sharif from power. Their initial plan was to replace him with Shehbaz Sharif, but when Shehbaz refused to act as their pawn, the duo shifted their support to Imran Khan, with the broader objective of paving the way for a presidential system.

Blackmail, Pressure and Political Manipulation

Hamid Mir asserts that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the biggest witness to the political interference and blackmailing carried out by Bajwa and Faiz. Mir had previously claimed that both men offered Shehbaz the premiership before the 2018 elections—an allegation Shehbaz never denied.

Another major witness is Asif Ali Zardari. According to Mir, Faiz pushed to send Zardari abroad on medical grounds. When Zardari refused, he was arrested.

Creating BAP to Install Imran Khan as Prime Minister

Mir further alleges that Bajwa and Faiz orchestrated the creation of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) before the 2018 elections. Under the guise of “national interest,” politicians were gathered into the new party, which then secured key seats in both the province and the centre—ultimately helping to install Imran Khan as Prime Minister.

Though Imran publicly glorified Bajwa, Mir notes that privately he had begun to resent him.

The ‘Underworld Don’ at the Heart of Power

On 23 March 2019, when the PTI government awarded Major General Faiz Hameed the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military), it became evident he was being groomed for even greater influence. After being promoted to Lieutenant General, he briefly served as Adjutant General before being appointed DG ISI.

According to Mir, Faiz used both Bajwa and Imran as tools for his own ambitions—assisting Bajwa in sidelining senior officers by pushing for his extension, and fuelling Imran’s confrontations with the opposition, judiciary and media.

Mir describes Faiz’s modus operandi as identical to that of an underworld don—built on manipulation, deceit and hypocrisy. Faiz reportedly told critics of military interference:
“Keep criticising the Army, but stay friends with me—attack Bajwa, but spare me.”

Begging for Promotion, Then Plotting Revenge

The most striking revelation concerns August 2022, when Faiz began desperately pleading with Shehbaz Sharif to appoint him as Army Chief after Bajwa. He even allegedly offered sensitive information against Imran Khan.

When he was not selected, Mir claims, Faiz began conspiring—plots that were eventually exposed by PTI leaders who themselves were being blackmailed by him.

“Faiz Was No One’s Friend — Only Money’s Friend”

Mir concludes with a damning statement:
“Faiz Hameed was no one’s friend. His only loyalty was to himself and his money.”

He predicts that more witnesses will soon come forward to expose the full extent of Faiz’s corruption, and that Pakistanis will eventually realise that politicians—often painted as the villains—were nothing compared to this alleged underworld don who continued to loot even those he manipulated.