Supreme Court expresses displeasure over handling of Islamabad sit-in
Islamabad IG says police personnel were fatigued by the time the operation orders were given
November 30, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court expressed displeasure on Thursday over the way the Islamabad sit-in was handled.
On Thursday, the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence submitted their sealed reports to the two-member bench over the Faizabad sit-in through the deputy attorney general.
The police had already submitted its report over the Faizabad operation a day earlier.
During the hearing, Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked for details of the incident to be furnished in court.
The deputy attorney general informed the bench that they have received unsigned documents from the Punjab government regarding the losses incurred during the sit-in. He shared that according to this report, the losses incurred stand at Rs146 million, but the bench did not accept the valuation as authentic.
Justice Isa then remarked where does Islam permit damaging public and private property?
Criticising the role of IB and ISI, Justice Isa questioned what the agencies are doing. Addressing the ISI representative in court, he observed that "everything is not part of a political agenda".
He also said that the Army is also part of the government and not everything is part of a political agenda.
On November 21, Justice Alam and Justice Isa had taken notice of the Islamabad protest sit-in while hearing a separate case.
During the hearing, Justice Isa observed further that neither Islam nor Pakistan were served during the sit-in. "If someone played a role [in resolving the sit-in] then that is a good thing," he remarked further.
Justice Alam also inquired as to who provided the protesters with the modern riot equipment.
The hearing was then adjourned until a later date, with the bench observing that they will make a decision in the case.
Police were exhausted when operation ordered: IG
On Wednesday, Islamabad Inspector General Khalid Khattak submitted a nine-page report to the apex court with regard to the hearing.
The report stated that the police, which had been deployed since 20 days, had reached the point of exhaustion by the time the order for the operation was given.
Moreover, the report cites lack of coordination among security organisations and the preparations of the protesters as reasons for the botched operation.
The report states that around 5,500 officials took part in the operation, which resulted in the clearing of around 80 per cent of the sit-in site. A total of 173 policemen were injured in the operation.
It has also been stated in the report that the protesters used loudspeakers to demoralise the police force.
Moreover, it was stated that the protesters were well equipped to deal with the police as they had batons, stones and other special equipment.
A total of 418 protesters were sent to Adiala Jail on remand, with 107 nominated in the 27 FIRs lodged against them. However, a number of protesters were released from custody as part of the agreement between the government and the protesters.
Also on Thursday, the judicial remand of 47 protesters still in jail was extended.
At the last hearing of the case on November 23, the Ministries of Defence and Interior had presented their response before the two-member bench.
After hearing arguments, the bench adjourned the hearing till Nov 30 directing the respondents to submit the implementation report.
During the hearing, Justice Isa remarked: “When the writ of the state ends, decisions are made on streets,” adding that, “this dharna [sit-in] is all about one man’s ego and his quest to get fame.”
