SC to take up plea for new JIT on Nov 19

Top court issues notices to former premier Sharif and several other PML-N leaders

LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) on Saturday fixed an application, seeking the formation of a new joint investigation team (JIT) in the Model Town case, for hearing on November 19 (Monday).

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, would hear the application filed by Bisma Amjad seeking directions for the formation of a new JIT to investigate the Model Town case at the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry.

The court had issued notices to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif besides Khawaja Saad Rafique, Pervez Rasheed, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Abid Sher Ali and others nominated as accused in the private complaint, filed by Idara Minhajul Quran, a sister organisation of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).



Bisma Amjad, the daughter of a Model Town victim, had pleaded for formation of a new JIT. She said the first JIT had not conducted investigations on merit and acquitted the said politicians.

It is pertinent to mention here that 14 people were killed and over a 100 others were injured during police action in the Model Town incident.

Earlier on Friday, after issuing notices to Punjab’s advocate and prosecutor general, the SC adjourned the hearing of an appeal seeking to summon the top tier of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz over the Model Town carnage.

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

The petition prayed 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.

(With additional input from APP)