Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: In Supreme Court, a two-member panel including Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is hearing the last year’s Faizabad sit-in suo moto case today (Monday). Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mahmood is appearing on behalf of the federal government.

Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) agency has submitted a comprehensive report, wherein it is stated that the ISI had recommended the federal government to avoid the use of force and resolve the issue peacefully through negotiations with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Ya Rasul Allah (TLYR).

The 46-page report says that ‘despite ISI’s suggestions to solve the issue politically and avoid the use of force, an operation against the dharna was launched on November 25, 2017 on the orders of the Islamabad High Court. The operation was an utter failure and triggered countrywide protests’, reported Express Tribune.

The complete profiles of the leadership of the protesters – Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Dr Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, and Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri – have also been added to the report.

The report states that Rizvi is “reportedly corrupt” when it comes to financial matters, but also that he appears to be living within his means. It also notes that he has shown an inclination towards misuse of power, authority, and resources. His overall reputation is ‘unsatisfactory’, says the report.

The report describes Dr Jalali as being dubious, ‘an opportunist’, and a ‘manipulator’. His overall general reputation is also ‘unsatisfactory’. No negative point has been found in the profile of Muhammad Afzal Qadri however.

It is also informed that Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Pakistan Muslim League – Zia (PML-Z) chief Ejazul Haq, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ulema Wing Islamabad, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sheikh Hameed supported the Faizabad sit-in.

The list of supporters included columnist and TV commentator Orya Maqbool Jan as well. The report also says that food was also provided by the owner of the Channel 92, Mian Abdul Rasheed of Faisalabad.

It was also reported that the operation failed due to lack of coordination between police forces of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The ISI has also expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of other agencies. Likewise, ‘Intelligence Bureau (IB) remained aloof, as no information or efforts were visible on the part of this agency’.

Live media coverage of the operation on TV as well as social media resulted in mobilisation of the protestors and the religious sentiments of police personnel were exploited by TLYR leadership through their continuous speeches on loudspeakers, the report claims.