Govt terms Faizabad Sit-in inquiry report dissatisfactory

The federal cabinet has expressed dissatisfaction with the inquiry commission report regarding the 2017 Faizabad sit-in, following remarks from the Supreme Court that the findings did not align with the specified terms of references (ToRs).

During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan presented the report, prompting cabinet members to voice their discontent after being briefed on its contents.

In alignment with the observations of the Supreme Court, the federal cabinet acknowledged that the inquiry commission had failed to address the stipulated ToRs. Consequently, a decision was made to establish a special committee tasked with providing recommendations on the matter.

In November of the previous year, the federal government formed a three-member commission to investigate the individuals behind the Faizabad sit-in, which had targeted the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government. However, the commission’s report, presented by Dr. Akhtar Ali Shah, Khushhal Khan, and Tahir Alam, primarily suggested legal action without delving into the core objectives outlined in the ToRs.

During a recent court hearing on May 6, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa criticized the commission’s report, highlighting its failure to adequately address key aspects of the sit-in. The court expressed astonishment over the absence of statements from Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) members and emphasized the necessity of considering their perspective.

The Supreme Court concluded that the report did not adhere to the specified ToRs, prompting further scrutiny of the federal government’s endorsement of the findings. The court directed the AGP to submit the government’s stance on the report and instructed the inquiry commission to provide a written response or appear for clarification within two weeks.