Faizabad sit-in: CJP grills PEMRA chief, demands name of mastermind

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa on Wednesday expressed a strong desire to uncover the true mastermind behind the Faizabad sit-in.

The three-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Manullah, was overseeing the case.

Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa inquired about the whereabouts of Mr. Absar Alam, and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan stated that he was on his way.

CJP Isa highlighted that Absar Alam had made serious allegations against the Ministry of Defence employees and questioned whether the government still intended to withdraw the revision petitions.

Ex-chairman of the media regulatory body said that former ISI chief Faiz Hamid pressurized Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) during Faizabad sit-in.

AGP responded by mentioning the establishment of a fact-finding committee.

CJP further discussed the matter, expressing that if Absar Alam’s allegations were true, it concerned the government.

He inquired about the date when the fact-finding committee was formed, to which the Attorney General stated that it was established on October 19.

CJP asked for the notification of the committee’s establishment and inquired about the entity to which the committee would submit its report.

AGP explained that the report would be submitted to the Ministry of Defence, with the committee’s first meeting occurring on October 26. He also mentioned that the committee’s report would be shared with the court.

CJP Qazi Faiz Isa criticized the government’s fact-finding committee, likening it to an attempt to distract from the issue.

The Supreme Court raised concerns about the legality of the committee. Justice Athar Manullah questioned whether the country was operating in accordance with the constitution after the court’s decision and sought guarantees of constitutional adherence.

CJP probed further, questioning why the court’s decision had not been implemented, and emphasized the need to identify the mastermind behind the sit-in.

He expressed a lack of interest in the committee’s report, questioning the scope of the investigation and the committee’s legal status.

Justice Athar Manullah inquired about cabinet approval and the legal basis for the committee’s establishment, while CJP Isa stressed the importance of establishing the supremacy of the Constitution at any cost.

He reiterated the historic significance of the Faizabad sit-in case decision.