ISLAMABAD (Daily Point) — The former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hamid, has once again failed to appear at the Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission (FDIC) hearing, as reported by The News on Saturday. This was reported by private TV channel Geo news.
This marks the second instance of the former ISI chief’s absence from the ongoing inquiry commission’s proceedings. Sources indicate that he was initially summoned in the second week of December this year and then again on December 29.
In response to his non-compliance, the commission has issued another summon notice through the Defence Ministry, urging him to cooperate in the inquiry.
For the third time, Gen (retd) Faiz is now required to provide his statement in the second week of January 2024 regarding the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) sit-in at the Faizabad flyover in Islamabad in November 2017.
Meanwhile, on December 19, Joint Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Sajid Kiani recorded a three-hour-long statement before the inquiry commission, ruling out interference from any other institution during the operation against the TLP, according to sources. Kiani served as the senior superintendent of police (Operations) in Islamabad during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in.
The probe panel, formed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and chaired by retired IGP Akhtar Ali Shah, was established after the apex court rejected the government’s fact-finding committee report.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, on November 15, emphasized the commission’s authority to summon individuals, including former army chiefs, prime ministers, and chief justices.
It is worth noting that the commission has also investigated former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, then-Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad, and other senior officials in Islamabad and Punjab involved in the Faizabad sit-in episode.
Regarding the Faizabad verdict, on February 6, 2019, a two-member bench of the apex court, including the current CJP Isa and Justice Mushir Alam, recommended stringent action against those issuing edicts or fatwas to harm others, urging prosecution under relevant laws.
