LHC suggests larger bench for hearing

After being excluded from the Anti-terrorism court decision, Nawaz, Shahbaz and Rana to appear before larger bench

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Tuesday suggested formation of a larger bench on a petition seeking directives for former PM Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and others to appear before a trail court in the Model Town killings case.

The bench, headed by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, took up the matter moved by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Jawad Hamid against the decision of an anti-terrorism court in which 12 accused, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Sanaullah, were excluded from the case.

The petitioner said the trial court did not dispense justice by excluding the main suspects in the case. He prayed the court to set aside the decision.

After hearing the arguments of the petitioner’s counsel, the bench sent the matter to the Chief Justice and suggested the formation of a large bench to hear the matter.

Last year, a trail court had excluded 12 respondents, however, it ordered former IGP Mushtaq Sukhera, police officials and officials of other departments to appear before the court in the case.

At least 14 people were killed and 85 others injured when a clash erupted between police and PAT workers in Model Town in 2014.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2018.