PM Shehbaz Sharif leads discussion on Faizabad sit-in report

The federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recently discussed the findings of the Faizabad sit-in report. The report absolved spy agencies and ex-spymaster Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed of any misconduct but pointed fingers at the political leadership for allowing Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protestors to enter Islamabad without resistance.

The inquiry commission, responsible for investigating the sit-in, faced criticism for not following its Terms of Reference (ToR). It cleared the spy agencies and Faiz Hameed, attributing the lack of action against TLP protestors to political leaders' concerns about losing their voter support.

The report highlighted the lack of coordination between Rawalpindi and Islamabad police departments, leading to casualties during the sit-in. It also noted conflicting strategies between the federal and Punjab governments in managing the protest.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, dissatisfied with the report, instructed the formation of a special committee to propose new recommendations. The Attorney General for Pakistan presented the inquiry report, which was not approved by the cabinet, necessitating fresh suggestions.

The commission's findings revealed no evidence linking intelligence agencies or officials to supporting the TLP protest. Former government officials, including the prime minister, interior minister, law minister, and Punjab chief minister, denied any state involvement in facilitating the protest.

The report mentioned the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) involvement in negotiating an agreement to end the protest, with Lt-Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed acting as a mediator under higher authorities' approval.

The commission attributed the mismanagement of the Faizabad sit-in to a lack of strong leadership, particularly from the Punjab government. It stressed the importance of improved coordination among law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.