Fact-Finding
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan today rejected the fact-finding committee formed by the government for the Faizabad dharna case.
In today’s hearing, the chief justice of Pakistan said that with the fact-finding committee, the government wants to foil the apex court’s efforts to hold accountable the mastermind of the Faizabad sit-in.
The CJP Qazi Faez Isa stated this during the hearing of the review appeal of the case on Wednesday.
Chief Justice said that the ToRs set for the fact-finding committee have been expanded in a manner that the court could not identify the real culprit behind the sit-in.
On Friday, the federal government apprised the Supreme Court (SC) of its formation of a three-member fact-finding committee aimed at ensuring the enforcement of directives issued in a suo moto case concerning the Faizabad sit-in on February 2, 2019.
In a civil miscellaneous application (CMA) submitted by Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, the government informed the SC that, in response to the court’s order of September 28, 2023, which had raised queries regarding the judgment’s execution, the committee would consist of the additional secretary from the Ministry of Defence, an additional secretary from the Ministry of Interior, and the director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting an inquiry and assigning accountability in line with the proposed terms of reference (TORs) provided by the government.
The SC was informed that the fact-finding committee established to ascertain responsibility for the Faizabad sit-in had initiated its proceedings but required additional time to deliver a report concerning the implementation of the SC’s judgment.
It was clarified that the Terms of Reference involve the collection, examination, and review of all pertinent documents, records, and evidence, the recording of statements from relevant witnesses, the assessment of the matter in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies, the determination of the roles and directives of all involved parties related to the management and handling of the matter, the submission of a report containing recommendations, and any other aspects or terms relevant to the issue.
The federal government informed the SC that as per the TORs, the committee convened its inaugural meeting on October 26, 2023, and has initiated its proceedings. It is expected to provide a fact-finding report to the Ministry of Defence by December 1, 2023.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa said that the allegations of Absar Alam against ISI officials are very serious.
The CJP stated this on Wednesday during hearing of the review appeal of Faizabad sit-in case.
Chief Justice also said that the court wanted to find out the mastermind of Faizabad dharna.
A three-member bench of the apex court is hearing the case on Wednesday.
Earlier, former chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam has made significant allegations against the ex-spymaster Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, asserting that he faced immense pressure from him during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
In a statement submitted to the Supreme Court, Absar Alam claimed that he and other PEMRA officials were under pressure from serving officers, including Maj. Gen. Faiz Hamid, and their subordinates. These officers allegedly complained that their requests were not being granted by PEMRA officials.
The former PEMRA chief revealed that Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed had asked for action against journalist Najam Sethi and a complete blackout of Hussain Haqqani on TV channels. However, both of these demands were not fulfilled.
