Local administration denies responsibility for Model Town clashes

Says removal of barriers in front of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s house was according to routine.

LAHORE: The local administration denied responsibility for the clashes that took place in Lahore's Model Town area between the police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers, Express News reported on Saturday.

In its reply to the judicial commission, which was formed to investigate the incident, the local administration said that the operation to remove the barriers in front of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s house and the Minhaj International Secretariat was according to routine, denying responsibility for the clashes that followed the removal.

On June 17, activists of PAT and policemen had fought pitched battles in the streets, leaving at least 14 party workers dead and dozens of others injured.

The clashes had erupted in the early hours of the day and continued for up to 14 hours. The confrontation had begun when a 15-member police team tried to remove the barriers.