SC rejects govt’s fact-finding committee on Faizabad sit-in
The Supreme Court of Pakistan Wednesday rejected the government’s fact-finding committee, ordering the Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, to form a new inquiry commission soon pertaining to the implementation of the apex court verdict in the Faizabad sit-in case.
The fact-finding committee was constituted by the government, on Friday, to investigate the “role and directions” of all “concerned” officials in the management and handling of the sit-in in 2017.
During the hearing today, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the apex court wanted to know who was behind the Faizabad sit-in.
“We want to know who was the mastermind of the Faizabad sit-in,” he remarked, expressing annoyance over the decision not being implemented since its issuance on February 6, 2019.
The hearing is being conducted by a three-member bench, headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Aminuddin and Justice Athar Minallah.
The chief justice, during the hearing, questioned what the incumbent government was doing on the implementation of the SC’s decision in the sit-in case.
“No one cares about this country,” CJP Isa remarked, while Justice Minallah said that the county is only for the elites and has been occupied by them for the last 70 years.
Taking a jibe at the government’s non-seriousness towards the case, CJP Isa said the court will close the case if the government asks it to do so.
“We will again wait for another tragedy like Faizabad to take place. Are we threatened by external enemies or internal threats?” he questioned, rejecting the government’s fact-finding committee.
The chief justice said anyone here gets up and blocks the roads, then goes abroad after harming the country.
The chief justice’s remark hinted at Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri’s participation in the 2014 sit-in by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the then-government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the centre.
“Was the purpose of importing a person to overthrow the government of that time?” CJP Isa asked, further questioning if the said person’s services will be sought again in the future.
“Did this person from Canada pay for his own ticket?” he questioned, further asking if it is possible to determine this by the investigation committee.
“[Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] Pemra, the Election Commission of Pakistan was not independent at that time,” he remarked.
The court then immediately summoned Pemra Chairman Salim Baig to the rostrum.
CJP Isa furious over review plea withdrawals
The chief justice remarked that Pemra staff does not work, but comes to the court to talk about their work.
He asked the incumbent Pemra chairman if he has read the report submitted by his predecessor, Absar Alam.
“The copy of the report has not yet been received,” said Pemra lawyer Hafiz S A Rehman, replying to the court.
The chief justice also expressed displeasure over receiving sudden withdrawal requests for nine revision petitions.
“Is it a joke to file a revision petition and withdraw it?” CJP Isa remarked.
Pemra’s counsel said he has only received Absar Alam’s affidavit.
The chief justice grilled the Pemra lawyer. He later summoned Pemra’s director-general operations to the rostrum.
Earlier, Justice Minallah remarked that the decision of the Faizabad sit-in case was landmark. The chief justice, however, disagreed saying that it was only according to the law and Constitution.