Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the Faizabad Dharna Commission report as bereft of any “authenticity” or “credibility”, questioning the absence of former Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI chief, Lt. General Faiz Hameed from the proceedings. Both the senior army officers were neither summoned nor their responses was sought by the panel.
Faizabad Dharna Commission report: Who will bell the cat?
The commission constituted to probe the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 sit-in at Faizabad has submitted its report to the federal government recommending, among other things, legislation and drafting of rules and standard operating procedures to regulate the working of intelligence agencies.
Faizabad commission report silent on question of ‘responsibility’
In an interview with Hum News show Faisla Aap Ka with Asma Sherazi, the Defence Minister commented on the report, saying: “This report has no authenticity or credibility … this report has no value and its authors should reflect and question themselves if they have fulfilled their duty or not.” He explained his rationale by saying that both “main characters”, referring to former army chief Gen (rtd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-spymaster Lt Gen (rtd) Faiz Hameed, did not appear in front of the commission to answer its questions for the report.
“How can this report be complete when two main characters are not presented,” he questioned.
“In the end, only a political worker was presented,” he added.
“Why were these people not presented? Their absence makes this report incomplete,” Asif said, adding that the pair had “all sorts of power” during the period under investigation by the commission.
The minister questioned what could be the mandate of the commission if the two retired generals did not appear before it, adding that there were no answers available.
“I think that when you are appointed at big designations then you should have moral courage that when your accountability is under question then you yourself volunteer” for proceedings, he said, terming the incident a “very important case” in the country’s history.
April 17,2024
Source: Dawn