Punjab govt convinced to form new JIT for Model Town incident, SC told

Tahirul Qadri laments performance of previous JITs

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Punjab government has decided to form a new joint investigation team for a fresh probe into the Model Town massacre.

The investigation pertains to 2014’s Model Town mayhem in which 14 people were killed and dozens injured in a clash between Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers and Punjab Police.



A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Faisal Arbab and Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel heard the petition filed by PAT chief Tahirul Qadri seeking fresh probe while the case was already under trial in a court.

During the hearing, Advocate General Punjab Ahmad Awais said the provincial government was convinced about the constitution of a new JIT.

Taking into account that the object of court proceedings had been achieved, the apex court disposed of the case.

While presenting his case, Qadri said the PML-N government had formed two JITs but the teams failed to record statements from the injured and the accused alike. He claimed the Punjab police and prosecution were under the control of the previous government.

The respondents, primarily Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senior leaders, had hired a legal defence counsel. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was represented by Kamran Murtaza while brother and then Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif was presented by Azam Nazi Tarrar. Former attorney general Ashtar Ausaf Ali was represented Hamza Shehbaz and former Punjab governor Rafiq Rajwana is former law minister Rana Sanaullah’s lawyer.



Amjad Pervaiz and Nasir Bhutta are representing former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and former information minister Pervez Rasheed respectively.