The federal cabinet has expressed dissatisfaction with the inquiry commission’s report on the 2017 Faizabad sit-in. This reaction follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision stating that the probe’s findings did not align with the terms of reference (ToRs).
Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan presented the report to the federal cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday. After being briefed by the AGP, the cabinet members found the report unsatisfactory.
Supporting the Supreme Court’s observations, the federal cabinet noted that the inquiry commission failed to address the ToRs. Consequently, they directed the formation of a special committee to provide recommendations on the matter.
In November of the previous year, the federal government established a three-member commission to identify the individuals who planned, financed, and supported the sit-in at Islamabad’s Faizabad area against the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, as ordered by the apex court. The commission was led by Dr. Akhtar Ali Shah, a former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police officer, and included senior PAS official Khushhal Khan and former inspector general Tahir Alam.
The commission’s task was to identify those who facilitated the sit-in. However, it merely suggested taking legal action based on the findings of the federal government and Punjab.
During the last hearing on May 6, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa criticized the commission’s report, stating: “It appears as if the entire exercise was done to exonerate ex-spymaster Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid.” The court noted the omission of a statement from Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and highlighted the importance of including their perspective. The CJP remarked that the commission’s report contained idiomatic expressions rather than substantive findings.
The Supreme Court concluded that the commission did not adhere to its ToRs and directed the AGP to clarify whether the federal government endorsed the report. The court also ordered that copies of the report be sent to the chairman and members of the inquiry commission, requesting a written reply within two weeks or an appearance to explain.
