The Defense Secretary, Lieutenant General (retired) Hamooduz Zaman Khan, has taken a significant step by addressing letters to the chiefs of the three armed services. This initiative comes in response to directives from the Supreme Court, urging a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of military officers in the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 Faizabad sit-in. The central message conveyed in these letters is a call for the services chiefs to scrutinize the actions of these officers and subsequently take appropriate disciplinary measures against them.
Media reports indicate that the defense secretary extended these letters to the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff. The written communication serves as a formal expression of the defense secretary’s commitment to complying with the Supreme Court’s orders and ensuring accountability for any military personnel implicated in the Faizabad sit-in.
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Additionally, the defense secretary has submitted an official statement to the commission entrusted with investigating the Faizabad sit-in. This underscores the gravity of the matter and emphasizes the defense secretary’s willingness to cooperate with the established investigative processes.
The backdrop to these developments lies in the decision made by Pakistan’s caretaker government in November of the previous year. At that time, a commission was established with the specific mandate to identify individuals responsible for orchestrating the Faizabad sit-in and to enforce the directives issued by the Supreme Court in relation to this case.
Among the notable individuals who have appeared before the inquiry commission are former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad. Their testimonies contribute to the broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Faizabad sit-in, shedding light on the political dimensions of the event.
In summary, the Defense Secretary’s proactive approach, as reflected in the letters to the services chiefs and the submission of an official statement to the commission, highlights the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability, even within the ranks of the military, in connection to the Faizabad sit-in. The ongoing inquiry continues to unravel the complexities of this contentious event, with key political figures actively participating in the investigative process.
