Extension sought in Faizabad sit-in case probe

The inquiry fee constituted to implement the Supreme Court docket’s judgment within the Faizabad Dharna case has requested a three-week extension to finalise its complete report.

A senior authorities official disclosed to The Categorical Tribune that the fee sought extra time from the apex court docket as a result of unavailability of key people whose statements are essential to the investigation.

This marks the second extension requested by the fee. Final month, a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, granted a one-month extension for the inquiry’s completion.

The federal authorities established the inquiry fee in November final yr.

In line with the notification, underneath the Inquiry Fee Act 2017, the fee is led by retired Inspector Basic of Police (IGP) Akhtar Ali Shah and contains former IGP Tahir Alam Khan and Extra Inside Secretary Khushal Khan.

Learn extra: Faizabad sit-in: companies chiefs requested to penalise personnel

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), underneath the management of Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi on the time, staged a sit-in protest at Faizabad in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.

The Supreme Court docket took suo motu discover of the street blockade in November 2017.

Subsequently, on February 6, 2019, a division bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa delivered its verdict on the sit-in case, criticising the roles of intelligence businesses, PEMRA, and the Election Fee of Pakistan (ECP), amongst others.

All related establishments, political events, and people filed evaluation petitions towards the judgment.

Nevertheless, the evaluation petitions weren’t fastened for 4 years.

After assuming the workplace of Chief Justice of Pakistan in September, Justice Isa listed the evaluation petitions for listening to. Apparently, all petitioners withdrew their evaluation petitions.

The bench then instructed the fee to research the motives behind submitting evaluation petitions at the moment.

The Phrases of References (TORs) mandate the fee to inquire into any unlawful monetary assist to the TLP for the Faizabad sit-in and subsequent occasions. It’ll additionally suggest motion towards these issuing edicts or fatwas throughout or in relation to the protest that both prompted hurt or put others in hurt’s means.

The fee will study the inaction of the PEMRA towards broadcasters and cable operators violating the legislation and code of conduct. It’ll additionally examine the unfold of hate and violence via social media, recommending measures to handle it.

Moreover, the TORs embody fixing accountability for any particular person or authorities officers, together with these with intelligence businesses, figuring out violations of the legislation and liabilities incurred, and recommending measures for police and legislation enforcement businesses in dealing with rallies, protests, and sit-ins.

The fee can be tasked with recommending a framework for federal and provincial governments to watch and prosecute these advocating hate, extremism, and terrorism.

It could inquire into any ancillary issues deemed match for justice and guarantee compliance with the SC’s judgment in SMC No. 7/2017 associated to Faizabad Dharna.