Model Town violence: Sharifs are afraid of fair probe into June 17 killings: Qadri

PAT chief says he does not trust the JIT formed by the govt.

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chairman Tahirul Qadri said on Monday the Sharifs were afraid of a transparent probe into the June 17 Model Town violence.

They are responsible for the killing of PAT workers during the riots, a party statement quoted Qadri as telling the media in London.

He said he had no trust in the joint investigation team (JIT) formed by the government to investigate the violence in which 14 people were killed.



“We want a JIT that does not have any representative supporting the government. Such a team must be free from the influence of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.”

He asked why the government was not accepting the findings of a high court judge.

“I will keep visiting our organisations in other countries… our mission is to ensure peace, tranquillity and justice,” he said.

He said the government’s claim that PAT workers had attacked the parliament house during a sit-in in Islamabad was false. “Our workers had taken refuge in the parliament from police firing. They stayed there for many days,” Qadri said.

About seeking the army chief’s help, he said, “I have sought his help because we are not getting justice.” He said Nawaz Sharif too had requested the army chief to facilitate a dialogue to end the political standoff.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2014.