Model Town tragedy: LHC dismisses PTI's request to implement session court's order

Lahore High Court says PTI not an affected group, therefore has no reason to become party in this case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf's (PTI) request asking that an FIR be registered against 21 people for their involvement in the Model Town clashes, Express News reported.

An additional district and sessions court on August 16 had directed the police to register an FIR against the prime minister, Punjab chief minister, deputy inspector general of police operations and 18 others, including politicians and police officials, in the deaths of 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists in June.

PTI's Zubair Khan Niazi put forward a request today, asking that the court's order be implemented. However, the LHC dismissed his request, stating that PTI was not an affected group in this incident and hence had no reason to become a party in this case.

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 had tried to remove barriers in front of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s house and the Minhaj International Secretariat.