PESHAWAR – The Faizabad Dharna (sit-in) Inquiry Commission cleared former ISI DG Lieutenant General (R) Faiz Hameed.
The sources privy to the development said that the Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission’s report consisted of 149 pages.
The Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission, established in light of the Supreme Court’s directives, was led by former IG Aftab Ali Shah.
The three-member inquiry commission led by former IG Aftab Ali Shah examined the activities related to the Faizabad Dharna of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and prepared the recommendations.
The report shed light on Islamabad Police, Ministry of Interior, Punjab government, ISI, and IB while also detailing matters related to former Law Minister Zahid Hameed.
The report stated that Faiz Hameed was supposed to sign the contract as Major General DG (C ) ISI. At that time, the then Army Chief and DG ISI had given permission to General Faiz Hameed for the contract.
According to the Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan and former Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had also agreed on Faiz Hameed’s signature.
The report emphasized the implementation of all points of the National Action Plan and stressed the need to address the weaknesses in the police’s command and control system.
The report mentioned that policymaking institutions need to learn from the Faizabad Dharna as incidents like Faizabad Dharna occur due to flaws in the government policies.
The report revealed that instead of stopping the TLP march in Lahore on November 25, the Punjab government allowed them to go to Islamabad that resulted in the fatalities and injuries due to the lack of coordination in the police of the twin cities.
The Inquiry Commission’s report stated that the federal government obtained the ISI’s services to reach out to the leadership of the protesters.
The report highlighted that during the Faizabad Dharna, Shahbaz Sharif was the Chief Minister of Punjab, and the national leadership did not blame any institution or officials.
The interference of the military or agencies severely affects the functioning of institutions in civil matters. The army should not be involved in public affairs to avoid criticism; the handling of public affairs is the responsibility of the IB and the civil administration.
According to the report, the Punjab government remained negligent and weak, and it resulted in the bloodshed.
To end violence based on beliefs, the peace must be made a strategic objective, without compromising on the governance of state, constitution, human rights, democracy and law.
The Commission recommended that police officers should be posted in difficult areas before deployment in Islamabad, public safety is the responsibility of the government, other sectors should refrain from interference, and a zero-tolerance policy is essential to combat extremism.
