Model Town case: Notice issued to Punjab prosecutor, advocate general by SC

Top court adjourns hearing for indefinite period

ISLAMABAD: After issuing notices to Punjab’s advocate and prosecutor general, the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday adjourned the hearing of an appeal seeking to summon the top tier of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz over the Model Town carnage.

In June 2014, 14 people were killed and 85 wounded when clashes erupted between Punjab Police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers after the former started removing barriers outside the party's secretariat at Lahore’s posh locality. The case is under trial in an anti-terrorism court in the provincial capital.



Submitted by PAT, the petition listed former premier Nawaz Sharif, former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar, former provincial law minister Rana Sanaulllah, former railways minister Saadi Rafique, and seven other PML-N leaders as respondents.

The petition prayed upon the court to summon the political leaders in the matter owing to the evidence hinting at their involvement in the tragedy.

During the hearing, the bench comprising Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Faisal Arab sought a briefing on the progress made in the Model Town trial.

PAT lawyer informed the apex court that previously the ATC had dismissed the party's request seeking to summon the PML-N’s top leadership as accused. PAT then approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) – which maintained the trial court’s decision and rejected the appeal.



Justice Ahmed observed that the LHC verdict had urged for the trial to be concluded before entertaining separate request summoning political leaders. It feared admitting the appeal may derail the trial.

PAT’s counsel said the trial had been delayed due to non-appearance of former Punjab IG Mushtaf Sukhera. “He has finally appeared before the trial court,” he added.

It is pertinent to note that the ATC had indicted Sukhera and 116 others in connection with the Model Town killings.