APC demands resignation of Shahbaz Sharif over Model Town tragedy
Information minister criticises the conference, says a joint investigation team is already looking into the incident.
LAHORE:
An All Parties Conference (APC), called by Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over the Model Town tragedy, Express News reported on Sunday.
Condemning the incident, the APC issued a five-point statement demanding the formation of a three-member bench of the Supreme Court to investigate the tragedy, in which 14 people were killed and around 80 injured.
At least 50 members of both political and religious parties were in attendance.
Dr Qadri, reading out the five-point joint communiqué at the end of the APC, condemned the incident of "terrorism, savagery, violence and barbarism".
“Federal and provincial governments, police and administration are warned that no action of this kind can be tolerated at all, and those responsible for it have no right to stay in power anymore,” the declaration said.
The APC demanded that baseless and fake FIRs lodged against the victims and protesters in any part of the country are wholly rejected, adding that all these baseless cases should be withdrawn immediately.
The APC demanded that an FIR be registered immediately on the basis of an application lodged by Minhajul Quran International with the Faisal Town Police Station.
Impartial and transparent investigation, and submission of evidence is not possible as long as the Punjab chief minister continues to stay in power, nor is it possible to fulfill the requirements of justice.
Therefore, the chief minister and other ministers involved in this incident should tender their resignations and hand themselves over to the law.
“Federal and provincial governments, police and administration are warned that no action of this kind can be tolerated at all, and those responsible for it have no right to stay in power anymore,” the declaration said.
The PAT chief, who had announced the meeting on June 26, thanked all party members who took part in the conference. Dr Qadri had said that the subject of the APC was the killing of his supporters during the Model Town clashes.
Speaking during the conference, Dr Qadri said that if Shahbaz Sharif doesn’t resign then President Mamnoon Hussain should exercise his role as leader and force Shahbaz to resign.
The PAT chief added that inspector general (IG) Punjab, deputy inspector general (DIG) operations, home secretary, district coordination officer of Lahore, SSP, SP Model Town and Lahore CCPO should be arrested for “their acts of terrorism”.
“They should be treated like normal citizens,” he stated.
Dr Qadri further said that the police are answerable to the chief minister, therefore Shahbaz should be held responsible for the Model Town killings. "Several of the PAT workers are still in critical condition," Qadri stated.
The APC further demanded that a three-member powerful judicial commission consisting of undisputed and impartial Supreme Court judges should be set up.
The commission should be empowered to summon the prime minister, nominated federal ministers, and the chief minister of Punjab.
Moreover, the inquiry committee, consisting of top officers of investigative agencies should be established to probe the Model Town tragedy.
Attendees included Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita committee member Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed.
Speaking at the APC, Chaudhry Shujaat said all those involved in the operation should be suspended, otherwise no one would remain safe in this kind of political culture.
One by one we will all be targeted if we do not raise our voices against this state terrorism, the PML-Q leader said.
The Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Political Party (PPP) had informed Qadri in advance that they would not attend the conference.
MQM leader Siddiqui said that if the perpetrators of the Model Town incident are not brought to justice, history would never forgive those responsible.
He added that independent investigation cannot take place under the supervision of the Punjab government officials and the police.
AML leader Sheikh Rasheed said that the incident was planned. He said reports of the judicial commissions on the killing of Benazir Bhutto and the Abbotabad commission are not released, so what can be expected from an adhoc judge of the LHC.
He asked the participants to do something practical; otherwise, this culture of carrying resolutions would be useless.
Govt responds to APC demands
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid responded to the demands put forward by the All Parties Conference, saying that the government has already formulated inquiry commissions for the Model Town incident.
Speaking to Express News, Rashid said that a joint investigation team and a judicial commission under a high court judge has already been formed. "They are doing their work and no one should question our intentions," he said.
Rashid added that a new inquiry commission, as demanded by the APC, can only be formed if the law allows it.
He also criticised the APC, saying that the parties that attended the conference have no representation in Parliament and they are demanding resignations to "keep their politics alive".
Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood called a press conference, reiterating that the inquiring committees formulated by the government are already investigating the incident.
"I'm sure Qadri doesn't even know the names of most of the political parties that attended the conference," Mashood said.
An All Parties Conference (APC), called by Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over the Model Town tragedy, Express News reported on Sunday.
Condemning the incident, the APC issued a five-point statement demanding the formation of a three-member bench of the Supreme Court to investigate the tragedy, in which 14 people were killed and around 80 injured.
At least 50 members of both political and religious parties were in attendance.
Dr Qadri, reading out the five-point joint communiqué at the end of the APC, condemned the incident of "terrorism, savagery, violence and barbarism".
“Federal and provincial governments, police and administration are warned that no action of this kind can be tolerated at all, and those responsible for it have no right to stay in power anymore,” the declaration said.
The APC demanded that baseless and fake FIRs lodged against the victims and protesters in any part of the country are wholly rejected, adding that all these baseless cases should be withdrawn immediately.
The APC demanded that an FIR be registered immediately on the basis of an application lodged by Minhajul Quran International with the Faisal Town Police Station.
Impartial and transparent investigation, and submission of evidence is not possible as long as the Punjab chief minister continues to stay in power, nor is it possible to fulfill the requirements of justice.
Therefore, the chief minister and other ministers involved in this incident should tender their resignations and hand themselves over to the law.
“Federal and provincial governments, police and administration are warned that no action of this kind can be tolerated at all, and those responsible for it have no right to stay in power anymore,” the declaration said.
The PAT chief, who had announced the meeting on June 26, thanked all party members who took part in the conference. Dr Qadri had said that the subject of the APC was the killing of his supporters during the Model Town clashes.
Speaking during the conference, Dr Qadri said that if Shahbaz Sharif doesn’t resign then President Mamnoon Hussain should exercise his role as leader and force Shahbaz to resign.
The PAT chief added that inspector general (IG) Punjab, deputy inspector general (DIG) operations, home secretary, district coordination officer of Lahore, SSP, SP Model Town and Lahore CCPO should be arrested for “their acts of terrorism”.
“They should be treated like normal citizens,” he stated.
Dr Qadri further said that the police are answerable to the chief minister, therefore Shahbaz should be held responsible for the Model Town killings. "Several of the PAT workers are still in critical condition," Qadri stated.
The APC further demanded that a three-member powerful judicial commission consisting of undisputed and impartial Supreme Court judges should be set up.
The commission should be empowered to summon the prime minister, nominated federal ministers, and the chief minister of Punjab.
Moreover, the inquiry committee, consisting of top officers of investigative agencies should be established to probe the Model Town tragedy.
Attendees included Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita committee member Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed.
Speaking at the APC, Chaudhry Shujaat said all those involved in the operation should be suspended, otherwise no one would remain safe in this kind of political culture.
One by one we will all be targeted if we do not raise our voices against this state terrorism, the PML-Q leader said.
The Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Political Party (PPP) had informed Qadri in advance that they would not attend the conference.
MQM leader Siddiqui said that if the perpetrators of the Model Town incident are not brought to justice, history would never forgive those responsible.
He added that independent investigation cannot take place under the supervision of the Punjab government officials and the police.
AML leader Sheikh Rasheed said that the incident was planned. He said reports of the judicial commissions on the killing of Benazir Bhutto and the Abbotabad commission are not released, so what can be expected from an adhoc judge of the LHC.
He asked the participants to do something practical; otherwise, this culture of carrying resolutions would be useless.
Govt responds to APC demands
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid responded to the demands put forward by the All Parties Conference, saying that the government has already formulated inquiry commissions for the Model Town incident.
Speaking to Express News, Rashid said that a joint investigation team and a judicial commission under a high court judge has already been formed. "They are doing their work and no one should question our intentions," he said.
Rashid added that a new inquiry commission, as demanded by the APC, can only be formed if the law allows it.
He also criticised the APC, saying that the parties that attended the conference have no representation in Parliament and they are demanding resignations to "keep their politics alive".
Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood called a press conference, reiterating that the inquiring committees formulated by the government are already investigating the incident.
"I'm sure Qadri doesn't even know the names of most of the political parties that attended the conference," Mashood said.