LAHORE: Elite Force in-charge, in his statement to the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) holding an inquiry into the Model Town incident, alleged that SP Salman Ali Khan had ordered security personnel to open fire on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers, Express News reported on Friday.
On June 17, at least 14 PAT workers were killed and dozens of others injured in violent clashes between party activists and policemen in Lahore. The confrontation had started when a 15-member police team tried to remove barriers in front of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s house and the Minhaj International Secretariat.
While recording his statement before the JIT, Elite Force in-charge Abdur Rauf claimed that Khan had ordered the security personnel to shoot at the protesters' legs in order to wound them. Rauf added that the security officials had expressed their reservations as they were afraid that wind could alter the trajectory of their bullets, which could cause serious injuries.
Rauf further said that when security personnel did not fire despite the SP’s order, SHO Shaikh Amir Saleem - who was at the scene - complained to the SP, asking him to issue the order again. He said that upon receiving the order again, the personnel had fired around 200 rounds at the protesters.
Eight Elite Force personnel corroborated Rauf's statement before the JIT which is expected to record statements of 34 more officers today.
On July 11, the JIT had detained nine policemen for their alleged role in the deaths of the PAT workers.
A senior police official working in the JIT had told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that around 150 police officials who took part in the clashes with PAT workers had been interviewed by the JIT.
“Eight Elite Force personnel and Sabzazar SHO inspector Sheikh Amir Saleem were not allowed to leave after recording their statements for further interrogation,” the official had said.
COMMENTS (44)
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@H Chaudhry: Just do the math. How many members of public got bullet wounds? About a hundred as reported by reputable tv channels - 14 deaths as a result. How many police with bullet wounds - ONE and none killed. Plain and simple common sense as to whom was responsible.
@Atif Neither am I related to this Government nor I have any relative in Government. I am an ordinary Pakistani and yes there are many many of us who are well educated and who can see black and white. Where as PMLN has a lot of weaknesses, I am not going to be dis honest to myself and beat up on Punjab police and PMLN government when there is a clear indication of a Foreigner inciting violence, asking his insane followers to do every illogical and unlawful thing, call them to give their lives ? What kind of humanity and peaceful nature is this? Why sitting in multi million dollar mansion built by stolen Zaakat money and fly $18000 business class and ask for poor followers to give up their lives.
In any society and book of law the cause and context is taken in to account for a tragedy. Yes there is a Tragedy here but what is the cause and context. It is not Punjab police but the violence committed and incited by a religious organization. Period.
Yes I am calling pregnant woman part of MOB! She is not killed in her Home. Please remember, she was part of a MOB fighting another MOB. She put herself in harms way. That is how sane law will see this incident.
And how come our society has fallen to such low when we do not agree with some one, we start name calling like now I might be with Government or getting benefit from Government ? I am just one of those many who for lack for opportunities are sitting outside of the Pakistan and praying for Stability in Pakistan so we can come back. Only connection I have to this Government is that i took a 16 hr flight to come and vote for it. Respect my vote and respect vote of many many many that voted PMLN in.
Yes I am calling Punjab Police a Mob and PAT workers a Mob based on circumstancial evidence. There is nothing more and nothing less. If Israel is using argument about women and childern being used and human shield, there may be some truth to it and in case of Lahore, actually the evidence show it quite well.
What was these women and men doing fighting police? Why did they just not move, why were they throwing stones and fighting police. Sorry this does not happen every where. Punjab police needs more training but there is nothing here that shows things were pre planned.
Take some sense pills and step back. PAT workers and their violent approach is the reason for their beating. Norhing more nothing less. Police needs to be trained well and PAT workers needs to be punished severly for resisting police. Check the US/UK system and how many deaths occur each year, "Resisting Arrest". Law comes first and a sick canadian leader inciting violence must be punished. Enough said!
@ufaquarian:
Brother your prayer has been accepted so quickly...... I have stopped blind following and only providing my support based on development work carried out in energy, economy and infrastructure and who is making sincere efforts in improving law and order starting with Baluchistan and now in NW/FATA as well as Karachi
This means I do not support the party which is only busy in arranging protests, agitation, dharnas, jalsas with nach gana???
May Allah also give you the courage to see the truth
@ H Chaudhry I am very sure you either have some relative in politics or some other family members or close associates linked to politics one way or the other. Either way, in some way you must be benefiting form the corrupt regime else no educated person with a little logic would say things like you have.
So you are trying to say the pregnant women killed were violent mobsters. It's a shame you speak that way your PML-N Rana Sanaullah even has close ties to terrorists like Malik Ishaq who openly says crap like killing shias is justified.
So you want the whole Pakistani public to back the government/ PML-N who is already supporting sectarian killings.
Sorry but I have full faith in Allah and I refuse to support the those who are corrupt and unjust.
@H Chaudhry: For God's sake, it is not Mob vs Mob, you are calling Police a Mob? You didn't comment on any evidence (at all), because there isn't any! You think throwing stones at Police is brutality on the part of PAT? This happens every where, again I would like to quote the movement for Judiciary, it happened there, no one was shot! You know Israel gives the same argument i.e. Palestinians use women and children as shield. After 6 years of (uninterruptible) rule on Punjab, you think Police acted like a mob and you think it is just? Let's wait and watch.
What was a pregnant woman doing there protecting/fighting with Police ? Or was it the Human shield created by insane stupid followers of a foreigner fanatic after his tweets.
You just cant give me or a court of law any where argument on a pregnant woman was killed with out giving proper context. Its not like Police entered the home of this pregnant woman and killed her. She was in crowd, apparently fighting police.
As I said, Mob Vs. Mob, Reation for action and the mighty police prevailed but there no innocence there on PAT workers etc. Lets close this stupid argument, there is some police training needed and thats about it.
@kulwant singh: Sardar jee thanks for correcting my English.
@H Chaudhry: Not one Police personnel was killed. And PAT workers, who are killed, includes pregnant woman! Did they even recovered any weapons from there? If they did they would have a solid evidence to prove their point. Dude take a look at the videos available of the 'struggle' for the judiciary, we can see similar mob effect there as well, no one fired at the mob. Please provide me one evidence that shows the brutality of PAT workers in Model Town. I don't give a crap about TUQ, but there's hardly any evidence of violence (not mob effect) by PAT workers. And I second @MK, what about Gullu Butt? after 6 years of uninterrupted rule on Punjab, this is not at all what we expect! GB or Police broke innocent citizen's property.
About the analogy, well Israel give similar argument, doesn't it? There too, innocent people including children and women are killed. They too say that they are being attacked by Palestinians.
There is no explanation of Gullu but or bakery incident or blockades. Point is that all of this was a mob fight where both mobs (police vs PAT workers) crossed the limits. On one side a mob was ready to commit violence because of the hate mongering their foreign leader incited to them on other hand it was un ruly mob of Police which like any other institution of Pakistan, is down the drain. Every thing else is irrelevant and was result of heat of moment where No one is at fault and every one is at fault.
I hope there is a lesson for police here for future and there should be a sever punishment to any one who stands up to law and to ones who incite violence.
@H Chaudhry:
Can you please also explain " Gullu Butt". I live in R Block of Model town, also explain why I have to go around, because of all the barriers around Sharif residences.
And you do not have to explain the "bakery incidence".That I totally understand.
@Atif It is not what you want , it is what is right from legal perspective. Stop with this "innocent" families. No one went to their homes. What ever happened was at an Institution where these "Innocent" people were protecting interests of their foreign leader and fighting with Police.
Sorry, there is NO INNOCENT party here! It was a Mob Vs. Mob, gangs of New York style. Nothing more noting less so stop with innocent families and people lies.
Not satisfied at all with how the govt is handling all this.
We want PML-N and Punjab government officials (rana, shahbaz, etc) in Jail and nothing less.
The model town incident was government sponsored terrorism and there is video footage that proves that police were directly firing at protestors which were unarmed.
What's the point of a useless PML-N style fake democracy that doesn't even allow people to protest. The LION is nothing but a curse on Pakistan.
For those backing PML-N even now for God's sake for once think about the innocent families of the victims and what they are going through..
@Ahsan You are being dishonest here calling state is using police to kill civilians. Where is the responsibility of these civilians when they are provoked by a foreigner to commit violence. Why they simply did not let police their job. Why they resort to complete violence ? How do you know, it was not PAT workers that fired first. We saw their peace loving nature in Rawalpindi. What is the role of this foreigner leader of theirs?
Lets be honest about this and look at the entire picture before simply using stupid rhetoric like comparing model town incident with what is happening in Israel.
@LHR and @Adnan Siddiqui : May Allah help you guys in this month and prevent you from blind following.
@Ali: "26 years or PMLN Govt in Punjab" Really?
Dont know about past 26 years (remember Mush supported by IK ruled for 10 years).......but the way things are progressing future 26 years could be easily PMLN!!
I sincerely hope the conspirators like Molvi Sahib of Canada, Khan sahib and TTP fail....... and PMLN stays for atleast 26 years to bring prosperity and development for the province
@Jahangir: You are PTI - isnt it? Can tell from from a mile - what else can they do other than personal remarks!
@Mir: Mir Sahib it is acceptable not exceptable pl correct.
Tribune, June 21, 2014
IG Punjab stated that those policemen were simply “following someone’s orders”, adding that he could not arrest them for doing that.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/725000/lahore-clash-ig-punjab-says-cannot-arrest-policemen-for-firing/
@LHR After 26 years of PMLN Govt in Punjab, the outcome is very scary; over 100 people being butchered in broad day light for what? To remove some barriers which are being placed again after few days. Does it make any justification to you or anyone else?? The barriers could have been removed by many other civilized way including negotiations, water canes or at least with rubber bullets in worse case scenario.( I'm not a big fan of Qadri though)
Where was PMLN Govt when rubbish was being thrown on our army?
Where was Shabaz. S when 100 people we're shoot including women and kids?
And for your kind information currently 17 members of Sharif family are in power and 22 different Govt department are without directors. Countries run with their department not with individuals.
@LHR: @Adnan Siddiqi: Please stick to the topic, no one is discussing IK or TUQ here and I am not one of their supporters either. State is using Police to kill citizens is worse than Israel attacking Palestinians. We are always ready to speak our heart out against Israel (which is fine, because they are breaking every International law and Human rights) but can't take a stand against the tyrant who is using a State department to kill its own people. I am speechless at your arguments, this event has nothing to do with KPK or IK.
@LHR: Had she been your sister, yo would have felt the pain how brutally she was shot. This incident can be given twists in any way you want, like what you patwaris are expert at.
There is no excuse to shoot women and children. This government has created some evil police May be competing Hitler. I have no love for Qaderi or Khan Sahib. But this is not except able.
@Ahsan:
One can come up with all sorts of conspiracy theories but rest assured that PML-N would not only complete this term but also go on to secure another term in 2018.
The likes of Musharraf, establishment and Chaudhries all tried their level best to cut PML-N to size but nothing worked. Mullah Canadvi and IK are just about the last throw of the dice and when they fail spectacularly as expected, the Mullah will go back to the queen permanently and IK would loose the KPK government and his integrity.
Seems PTI & PAT workers are getting excited on one small news item.......when the report has not even reached the state of being compiled...... - Who is saying that protestors were unarmed? - I have myself seen latest SMG in their hands? - Who fired first PAT or Police....yet to be determined? - What did the forensic report say about the lady who died from a bullet in her head........ living in one of the houses opposite Molvi sahibs house? - Was the fire that hit her head from the roof top as it went through her head and into the neck? - Who was standing on the rooftops of Molvi sahibs house at the time ....police or his armed guards? - Who gave sermons in loudspeakers provoking the youth with arms to die and take bullets on chests ......for what ........to stop police from removing illegal encroachments around Molvi sahibs house!
Wait before getting too excited as there is a lot more to come!
" that wind could alter the trajectory of their bullets" Even Angelina Julie of Wanted movie couldn't think of it. :D
@LHR: Nice try!
If an officer of SP rank can order his juniors to shoot at the protesters knowing that all media is showing live coverage of clashes and these incidents were taking place in Model Town (Lahore). You can only imagine what these police officers will be doing in remote areas of the province.
Again, it appears that the report will provide a shelter to actual responsible persons.
More than 200 injured and 14 died on the spot with only 200 rounds? The Deth Squad, Elite Force and Gullo Butt were deployed by CM but he is not yet investigated in any court of law? Is this the Democricy we desired?
200 bullets fired straight on unarmed protesters. Such brutality is only carried out at Gaza, in the modern world. Ironically both Pakistan and Israel are ideological states.
@Ahsan:
I believe wishful thinking on your part as PMLN govt is not going anywhere and will complete its tenure.
And be assured that if they continue their development work in energy, economy, law & order, infrastructure etc as they have in their first year they will also win the next elections and quite likely with a much bigger majority!
Also Molvi sahib will go back to Canada while Khan sahib will continue to collect chanda and arrange jalsas with music and nach gana.
Astonished to know that wind can alter the trajectory of a fired bullet. Moreover this alteration was upward against the force of gravity.
It's good. Finally we have some culprit names and now these names will expose who ordered them...
There has been numerous protests where protesters threw stones on police, we never saw anything like this before. Believe it or not, this incident is going to take PML-N down. After 6 years of rule on Punjab they couldn't build a Police department. Surprisingly, this is the Police of the 2nd big city of Pakistan and of such a (relatively) posh area (Model Town & Faisal Town). It is insanely unbelievable that Police would act on their own and ordered to open fire with out any orders from the top. Who are you seriously kidding?
Police fired "around 200 rounds at the protesters." 200 rounds of live bullets?! At unarmed protestors?!! Good Lord.
What is this ? an SP police can order to shoot women and children. Looks like Pakistan has achieved another milestone. What is going on ? Yeah Allah help Pakistan.
Oh I dint know wind could alter trajectory of a bullet shot from a gun :) I need a physicist to explain it :D
And who order SP to order the shootout at Model Town?
Well, SP Salman Ali Khan, it appears you are the lucky one they have chosen to fall on the sword to save your Lord and Master Shahbaz Sharif.... Do you accept this honour, or will you resist?
What a joke! "Firing on legs"??? That's how they killed 14 people? By firing on their legs?