Model Town clashes: Forensic agency says riot evidence no longer available

Agency says material evidence such as bullet holes, shattered glass removed from clash site in post-riot clean-up.

LAHORE: A forensic science agency - responsible for collecting evidence for investigation into the Model Town clashes - said relevant evidence was no longer available, Express News reported on Wednesday.

On June 17, activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and policemen had fought pitched battles in the streets which left at least 14 party workers dead and dozens of others injured.

In a report submitted to a judicial commission, the forensic agency said material evidence such as bullet holes and shattered glass was removed from the clash site in post-riot clean-up. The agency also told the commission that it has no further role to play in the investigation.

On July 8, some members of the agency had visited the site of the bloodshed along with the joint investigation team (JIT), which was set up by the judicial commission.

The clashes had erupted in the early hours of June 17 and continued for up to 14 hours. The confrontation had begun when a 15-member police team tried to remove the barriers in front of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s house and the Minhaj International Secretariat.

Telephone records

The judicial commission has directed the JIT to provide details of telephone and other communication records of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab chief minister's former principal secretary Dr Tauqir Shah, the home secretary, commissioner, CCPO Lahore, DCO Lahore, DIG Lahore and 10 SPs who were involved in the operation.

The deadline given for this is July 14, which is the date of the next hearing.