The Faizabad Dharna commission, set up to look into the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 protest, has sent its findings to the federal government.
It suggests making laws and rules to regulate how intelligence agencies work. The report says involving the army in civilian matters harms its good reputation and suggests leaving such issues to civilian agencies instead.
The commission also advises against using paramilitary forces like the FC and Rangers in cities. It recommends taking a strong stance against violent extremism and reviewing government policies to tackle its causes. The commission followed a court ruling from February 6, 2019, written by then-Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The report blames the fallout from the Faizabad protest on weak leadership, especially from the Punjab government. It mentions that while the government initially wanted Punjab to handle the issue, Punjab argued that since most demands were accepted, protesters should be allowed to go to Islamabad. No evidence was found linking intelligence agencies to the protest.
The report compares the agreement with TLP to past agreements with militant groups, calling them temporary fixes. It suggests a deeper analysis of religious militancy and a stronger approach to curb terror financing. It also suggests better coordination among law enforcement agencies and media monitoring to prevent harmful content. Additionally, it calls for action against those involved in crimes during the protest and suggests reconsidering a court ruling that weakened the prime minister’s authority. Finally, it proposes granting Islamabad the status of a province with full authority and implementing the Police Order 2002 in the capital.