The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday turned down the government’s previously formed fact-finding committee. Instead, the court has directed the Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, to promptly establish a fresh inquiry commission. The commission will focus on properly executing the apex court’s judgment in the Faizabad sit-in case from 2017.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, during today’s hearing, emphasized the court’s intent to uncover the individuals or entities behind the Faizabad sit-in. “We are keen to determine the mastermind of the Faizabad sit-in,” he stated, expressing frustration at the delay in implementing the decision, released on February 6, 2019.
Overseeing the hearing is a trio of judges, including CJP Isa, Justice Aminuddin, and Justice Athar Minallah. Throughout the session, CJP Isa repeatedly sought clarity on the government’s steps towards actualizing the Supreme Court’s decision on the sit-in matter. He criticised the current state of governance, stating, “No one seems to genuinely care for this nation,” while Justice Minallah commented on the elitist control over the country.
Court’s Remarks on Previous Political Incidents
CJP Isa pointedly remarked about events where individuals would instigate chaos, block roads, and subsequently leave the country, subtly referencing the 2014 sit-in led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the PML-N government, which saw the participation of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri. The chief justice questioned the motives behind involving external individuals to destabilize the then-government and expressed concerns over such occurrences repeating in the future. He also highlighted concerns about the independence and roles of certain institutions during that period.
CJP Isa Questions Pemra’s Role and Operations
Further into the hearing, Pemra Chairman Salim Baig was called upon. CJP Isa expressed his reservations about Pemra’s functionality, suggesting that instead of performing their roles effectively, they appear in court to discuss their duties. The discussion shifted to a report from Pemra’s former chair, Absar Alam, with the current Pemra lawyer, Hafiz S A Rehman, admitting to not receiving the report. Amid these discussions, CJP Isa revealed his dissatisfaction regarding the sudden withdrawal of several revision petitions. The hearing concluded with CJP Isa’s declaration that decisions like the Faizabad sit-in case aligned with the nation’s laws and Constitution.
