Faizabad Sit-in Case
The Faizabad Dharna Case Investigation Commission has announced its decision to summon Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed, who served as the Director General of the ISI during the Faizabad sit-in in 2017. The commission intends to issue a summons notice to Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed in the upcoming week, seeking his appearance regarding the investigation into the sit-in. The decision to summon him stems from the interest in his involvement during his tenure as the head of ISI amid the protest.
During recent proceedings, Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Sajid Kayani, who served as SSP Operations Islamabad in 2017, provided a comprehensive three-hour statement. Kayani asserted that there was no external interference in the operation against Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). Additionally, the Commission of Inquiry has also summoned IG Islamabad Khalid Khattak, who was appointed during the Faizabad sit-in.
Last month, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard nine review petitions against the decision of February 6, 2019, in the Faizabad sit-in case.
The caretaker government had established a commission of inquiry to investigate the Faizabad sit-in case, led by former IG of Police Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, Additional Secretary Home Khush Khal Khan, and a former IG of Islamabad Police. This commission is tasked with identifying individuals responsible for orchestrating the Faizabad sit-in and has the authority to recommend legal actions against those found culpable.
The Faizabad sit-in erupted in November 2017, lasting 22 days, fueled by objections to changes in the nomination form affidavit for election candidates. The altered wording in the affidavit led to protests by the TLP. An agreement, mediated by the army, diffused the situation, resulting in the resignation of the Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid.
The recent revisit of the Faizabad dharna case and the summoning of key figures indicate a renewed effort to thoroughly investigate and shed light on the intricate details and key players involved in the significant event in Pakistan’s recent history. The commission’s findings, expected within two months, contribute to the ongoing quest for accountability and justice related to the said case.
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