Model town tragedy: Was unaware of operation carried out by police against PAT workers, says Shahbaz

Punjab chief minister says he found out about operation against PAT activists next morning on TV

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that he was unaware of the operation carried out by police against Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists in Model Town, Express News reported.

On June 17, 2014, at least 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers were killed and 90 were in injured in clashes with police in Lahore. As a result, a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed by the Punjab government to probe into tragedy.

Read: New JIT formed to probe Model Town tragedy

"I found about it the next morning on TV," he clarified in his statement recorded before the JIT on Saturday.

Instead of asking the JIT to visit CM House, Shahbaz visited the investigation team's office himself to get his statement recorded.

PAT, however, still continued rejecting the JIT and did not visit its office to get any statement recorded.

Read: Model Town tragedy: New JIT rejected by PAT leadership

Earlier, an FIR of the incident was lodged by police against the PAT activists. Another report on the complaint of PAT was also lodged two months after the incident, naming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab CM, MNA Hamza Shahbaz, and 14 other high profile leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).