Free to travel abroad: Tribunal refuses to put Shahbaz on ECL

Petitioner claims police officials and victims are too afraid to testify.

LAHORE:

A judicial tribunal on Tuesday refused to bar Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, two of his former aides and several top police officials from travelling abroad.

Advocate Aftab Ahmed Bajwa earlier filed a petition with the tribunal investigating the Model Town tragedy, requesting that the name of Shahbaz, former law minister Rana Sanaullah, former principal secretary to CM Touqir Shah, former inspector general of police, former CCPO, former DIG and other police officers be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

But the tribunal comprising Justice Ali Baqir Najfi dismissed the application.

The judge remarked, “This tribunal does not believe that it is appropriate to order or not to order the inclusion of certain persons on the ECL as there is a proper forum available [for that].”

Earlier, social activist Naghmana Yasin, claiming to be a witness in the Model Town incident, appeared before the tribunal. Upon finding out about the police firing, she rushed to the Minhajul Quran Secretariat, she said.

“As I entered the secretariat, I found a woman on the ground and saw two armed police officials shooting at her,” she said. At this, the judge asked her to submit everything she had to say on an affidavit.

Another witness, Muhammad Arshad, a resident of Model Town, also appeared before the court. In his brief verbal statement, he said the people of the area are unwilling to testify, because they are terrified of the leaders.

Echoing the same opinion, advocate Bajwa also submitted that police officers are frightened of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as he is the sole authority who decides their transfers and salaries.

He blamed the Model Town tragedy on the chief minister and his top aide former law minister Rana Sanaullah. They were responsible for the deaths of 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists and injuries to 80 others, including police personnel, according to him.

Witnesses are frightened of these rulers who threatened them if they appeared before the tribunal, he submitted. At this Justice Najfi remarked, “The tribunal will ensure the protection of the injured people who want to record their statements.”

Bajwa also requested the tribunal to issue directives to the concerned authorities to provide recording of CCTV cameras at Jinnah Hospital so that the exact number of fatalities and the injured could be determined.

Judge Najfi also rebuked the additional inspector general, Altaf Hussain, who appeared on behalf of the IG Punjab, for not submitting a report of the Joint Investigation Team. Hussain said the JIT has been working since Monday, but its report has not been prepared yet.

At this, the judge asked him whether he was serious about the matter or not.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2014.