The Supreme Court resumed review petitions on its 2019 Faizabad sit-in judgement, with Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressing dissatisfaction with the inquiry commission’s report. The three-member bench, including Justices Irfan Saadat Khan and Naeem Akhtar Awan, also broadcast the hearing on the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel.
During today’s proceedings, CJP Isa queried the attorney general about reviewing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) report, receiving a negative response. Chief Justice Isa directed a break to examine the ECP report further. Upon resumption, he expressed dismay over the report’s contents.
The attorney general mentioned that Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed informed the commission that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) wasn’t responsible for investigating terrorist financing. Justice Isa questioned this, expressing skepticism about the report’s quality and the absence of other commission members.
During report scrutiny, Justice Isa highlighted contradictory statements, disclaiming ISI’s responsibility while lacking evidence linking Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to financial assistance. He urged the attorney general to consider the nation’s losses due to the Faizabad sit-in, condemning its violent methods.
In his 2019 Faizabad Dharna judgment, Justice Isa emphasized the constitutional prohibition of armed forces’ political involvement. He directed action against violators and upheld the right to freedom of speech and expression. He concluded that obeying the Constitution and law was every citizen’s obligation in Pakistan.
