Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa voiced displeasure with report produced by an inquiry commission established to probe into 2017 Faizabad sit-in by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). He said it seemed probe body was unaware of its own responsibility.

He remarked that if Faizabad sit-in decision had been implemented, May 9 incident might not have happened. CJP made these remarks as three-member Supreme Court bench took up set of review petitions filed against court’s 2019 judgment in Faizabad sit-in case.

Hearing was broadcast live on Supreme Court website and YouTube channel, with Justice Isa, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Awan serving as members of bench.

During hearing, CJP Isa expressed his dismay at report that commission put together and submitted. “I cannot comprehend what level of mind prepared this report. Commission does not even know what its responsibility was,” he remarked.

Attorney General responded negatively when asked if he had seen report Election Commission of Pakistan had submitted.  Attorney General brought up statement made by Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed before commission, stating that it was not duty of Inter-Services Intelligence to investigate terrorist financing.

“If it’s not their responsibility, then whose responsibility is it?” Justice Isa asked. He asked where other members of commission were and what kind of report they had made.

Examining report in detail, CJP Isa noted that two paragraphs stated that TLP was not receiving financial assistance and that it was not ISI’s responsibility.

Judge Isa asked AGP to consider extent of losses nation had incurred as result of sit-in at Faizabad. “Kill, vandalise and leave; what method is this?”  CJP remarked that those who do not learn lesson should be taught lesson, adding that state would have to impose its writ. “People’s properties were set on fire. Poor victims were not at fault.

Don’t turn arsonists into heroes,” he remarked. CJP Isa said according to commission, Rana Sanaullah was running Punjab government and was responsible. Commission did not say who violated oath.

“How can commission say that protesters should have been stopped in Punjab? It is right of every citizen to protest peacefully. I don’t know what commission was afraid of; it seems it had some grudge against Punjab government,” he said.

Chief Justice said that someone must have approved review pleas, adding that Faizabad sit-in commission report was something to give to class 5 students. Court remarked that there were inconsistencies in commission report: on one hand, it was written that General (retd) Faiz Hameed did not call Absar Alam to resume channel transmissions, while on other, they say that former spy chief did call former Pemra chairman. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 07 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.