Islamabad: In a recent development, former ISI Chief Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed has firmly denied any involvement in a conspiracy against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government during the 2017 Faziabad sit-in. The disclosure was made during Faiz Hameed’s testimony before the commission investigating the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) sit-in staged in 2017.
Despite being summoned thrice by the commission, Faiz Hameed had not appeared before it. In response, the panel sent him a questionnaire, to which he responded, stating that his negotiations with the TLP were conducted on the directives of the government.
During his testimony before the commission, Faiz Hameed refuted the allegations, clarifying that his role in negotiations with the TLP was in accordance with the government’s instructions, as per sources familiar with the proceedings.
The inquiry commission, chaired by Akhtar Ali Shah and featuring former IG Tahir Alam and Khushhal Khan, had summoned Faiz Hameed to record his statement through the Ministry of Defence.
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Summonses were initially issued to Faiz Hameed for appearance in December 2023, but he had ignored them. The inquiry commission was established by the caretaker federal government in November of the previous year, following the Supreme Court’s orders for the implementation of the 2019 Faizabad verdict. This move came after the rejection of the fact-finding committee report constituted by the government by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The ongoing proceedings aim to unravel the events surrounding the 2017 Faziabad sit-in, shedding light on any potential conspiracies or irregularities during that period. The commission continues its efforts to gather statements and evidence to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the sit-in and subsequent developments.
