Model Town clashes: Sessions court orders cases be registered against PM, Punjab CM

Faisal Town SHO directed to register FIR against DIG operations, among 20 others

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions court has directed SHO Faisal Town to register an FIR against 21 accused including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, DIG operations and other politicians and police officials over the June 17 Model Town clashes in Lahore.

At least 14 people were killed and over 80 were injured in the deadly clashes between the police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers.

The decision comes after an application was filed by the Minhajul Quran secretariat.

On Saturday, petitioner’s counsel Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi submitted a petition to the court that the Punjab government was hiding the joint investigation team’s report, alleging that the report was against the government.

Claiming that police fired directly at PAT supporters, Afridi challenged the government to present any police official injured during the clashes to substantiate the government’s claims that the police were fired upon first. He asserted that PAT workers did not fire at the police and only used tear gas.

The petitioner further claimed that Gullu Butt was seen smashing car windows on television but was not mentioned in the joint investigation team’s report.

However, District Public Prosecutor Malik Azhar said that PAT workers should record their statements before the joint investigation team, adding that they did not appear before the judicial tribunal despite repeated notices.

“It is mentioned in the order, in view of the above discussion the application in hand is hereby accepted and respondent (SHO) is directed to register the FIR on the application of the petitioner and then to proceed in accordance with law in the investigation,” said judge Raja Muhammad Ajmal Khan’s ruling.

Earlier, a one-man judicial commission formed to probe into the incident had also submitted its findings to the Lahore High Court wherein it held provincial departments responsible for the incident.

However, no single department was specifically held responsible by judicial commission. Action is yet to be taken against the responsible government departments.









Court did not order registration of FIR against PM: Rashid

Contrary to reports, Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid said on Saturday that the sessions court had not issued any order to the police to register FIR against prime minister or the Punjab chief minister in the Model Town case.

In a statement, the minister clarified that the court while disposing of Minhajul Quran application, asked the police to deal the matter as per law and procedure. He claimed that this decision of the court did not mean that it had ordered for registration of a case against anyone, he added.