ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday gave extension to the commission probing the 2017 Tehrik-iLabbaik Pakistan (TLP) sit-in at Faizabad.

A three members` bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa extended the deadline for the commission till Feb 14.

Earlier, the federal government had requested the SC to grant extension for another month for the submission of an inquiry report by the commission. The extension was sought to record the statement of few politicians and T LP`s leaders, compiling all the record and evidences and write the report, including recommendations.

The three-member commissioner headed by retired police officer Syed Akhtar Ali Shah was constituted under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, to ensure compliance with the Feb 6, 2019, verdict against the 20 day sit-in.

After hearing, the SC granted a month extension in the deadline and adjourned the hearing till Feb 15.

Official sources told Dawn that former premier Shahbaz Sharif, who was the Punjab Chief Minister during the Faizabad sit-in in 2017, but he neither appeared before the commission nor submitted his written reply.

Earlier, the commission sent him a questioner on his request , they added.

The commission will summon him again, the sources said, adding that he is likely to inquire about the role of his office during the T LP`s long march towards Islamabad, and wjether they tried to intercept them or not.

Whether orders were issued from his office or not in this regared and if issued the orders were followed by the department concerns or not? Former interior minister Rana Sanaullah has also not been appeared before the commission despite being summoned, the sources said, adding that Mr Sanaullah was heading a committee constituted by the government to negotiate with the TLP over the party`s march and sit-in at Faizabad.

The commission will also summon him again, they added.