The Faizabad sit-in inquiry commission’s report, submitted to the federal government, has concluded that there was no evidence of any organization’s involvement behind the sit-in. It gave a clean chit to General (Retd) Faiz Hameed, who chaired a meeting following the Prime Minister’s directives and acted in accordance with those instructions.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accepted responsibility for the decisions made during the sit-in, absolving General Hameed of any undue influence. Testimonies from key figures including Shahbaz Sharif, Ahsan Iqbal, Zahid Hamid, and Aftab Sultan unanimously denied any involvement of agencies or individuals.
However, the commission’s report criticized the Punjab government’s failure to promptly address the sit-in and its decision to allow the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to march to Islamabad. It also identified shortcomings within the Rawalpindi administration.
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In response to the findings, the commission proposed implementing the National Action Plan and emphasized the need for the executive to fulfill its responsibilities effectively. It also suggested amendments to laws, including those related to social media, to better regulate platforms like PEMRA Ordinance. Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed has recorded his statement before the commission, claiming he negotiated with the TLP on the instructions of the then government of the PML-N led by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
The commission has completed its investigation and prepared its final report, which includes statements from 27 key figures and recommends action against several personalities deemed responsible for mishandling the sit-in. It also identifies those accountable for the failure to effectively manage the protest. The final report contains various recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future, emphasizing that all decisions related to the sit-in were primarily made by the chief executive on behalf of the provincial government.
