Islamabad 19 (TNS): The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has submitted a chilling report to the Supreme Court unmasking various characters that supported, financed, sponsored and sustained the infamous Faizabad sit-in for several weeks.
At the same time, the ISI report has termed Khadim Rizvi of Tehreek Labaik, who brought the twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi to a standstill last November for over three weeks, is financially corrupt with tendencies to grabbing power.
The Supreme Court bench is hearing the suo moto case regarding the Faizabad dharna on Monday. Earlier, the apex court had ordered the ISI and the MI to submit comprehensive reports as to who was at the behest of the sit-in.
Interestingly, the ISI report has said that followers of Barelvi sect, seminaries affiliated with the sect, local and international donors generously donated to the organizers of the sit-in and Khadim Rizvi reported collected Rs10 million prior to starting the march.
According to the ISI report, 92 TV channel owner Mian Abdul Rasheed provided and bore the cost of food provided to the protesters.
It was observed during the sit-in that the said channel gave an extensive coverage to the dharna while the sit-in leaders spew invectives at political leaders and top judges, calling them corrupt, crook and villains.
The ISI report also said that the government failed to resolve the issue through negotiations and batched operation further spoiled the things and country-wide protests ensued. The report also said that the Punjab government failed to stop the protesters in Lahore before they reached Rawalpindi.
The report also contains profiles Rizvi, Dr Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, and Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri, who led the protest. The report calls Rizvi an “arrogant, harsh but committed to his cause”. The report terms Jalai “dubious, opportunist and a manipulator”.
A large number of registered madaris affiliated with the group raised large sums in donations. During the dharna, many affluent persons from across the globe also contributed financially.
The report also contains the names of AML chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, PML-Z chief Ejazul Haq, PTI Ulema Wing Islamabad, and PPP leader Sheikh Hameed and TV commentator Oriya Maqbool Jan, who supported the Faizabad sit-in and added fuel to the fire.
