Faizabad sit-in probe panel summons ex-ISI DG

Notices have been dispatched to former ISI chief through the defence ministry, sources

ISLAMABAD:

The Faizabad Sit-In Commission has summoned former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed for a second time to record his statement next week, sources said on Friday.

They said that notices have been dispatched to the former ISI chief through the defence ministry. Although he was previously summoned by the commission in the second week of December, the notice could not be served in time, resulting in the retired general not appearing before the commission.

Now another notice has been sent via the defence ministry to Gen (retd) Faiz to appear before the commission next week and record his statement regarding the sit-in by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in 2017 and assist the commission in gathering evidence in this matter.

Read May 9 riots, Faizabad sit-in juxtaposed

The Faizabad sit-in refers to the protest in Faizabad Rawalpindi in November 2017 by the activists and supporters of the TLP. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the sit-in on November 21, 2017 and a division bench led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa on February 6, 2019 pronounced its verdict, criticising the role of intelligence agencies in the saga.

Soon after assuming the office of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) in September this year, Justice Isa listed for hearing the petitions that had been filed against the February 2019 verdict. However, most of the petitioners withdrew their petitions as a three-member bench led by Justice Isa took up the case.

Later, the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) informed the bench that the government has established a three-member commission of inquiry. This commission is tasked with identifying individuals responsible for planning, financing, and supporting the sit-in. Furthermore, it will recommend legal actions against those who both planned and executed the protest.