Ex-ISI chief absent from Faizabad inquiry commission hearing, again

ISLAMABAD: Lt. General (retd) Faiz Hameed, the former Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has once again avoided appearing before the Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission (FDIC), according to a news report by The News.

This marks the second occasion that the former ISI chief has abstained from participating in the inquiry, as summoned by the commission in the second week of December and later on December 29 this year.

Faizabad Dharna case: Former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed summoned

Sources indicate that the commission has issued another summons to the ex-spy chief via the Defence Ministry, instructing him to cooperate with the ongoing inquiry.

For the third time, General (retd) Faiz is now required to provide his statement in January 2024 regarding the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) sit-in at the Faizabad flyover in Islamabad in November 2017.

In contrast, Joint Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Sajid Kiani, who served as the senior superintendent of police (Operations) in Islamabad during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in, had already given a three-hour-long statement before the inquiry commission on December 19. He reportedly ruled out any interference from other institutions during the operation against the TLP.

The commission, formed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan under the leadership of retired IGP Akhtar Ali Shah, was established after rejecting the government’s fact-finding committee report. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, on November 15, stated that the commission has the authority to summon individuals, including former army chiefs, prime ministers, and chief justices.

Ex-ISI chief expected to appear before Faizabad Dharna Commission

It is noteworthy that the commission has also investigated former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, former secretary to the PM Fawad Hasan Fawad, and other senior officials involved in the Faizabad sit-in episode.