Model Town tragedy: JIT grants ‘clean chit’ to PM, CM Shahbaz
On June 17, 2014, at least 14 PAT workers were killed and 90 were in injured in clashes with police in Lahore
LAHORE:
A joint investigation team probing last year’s deadly clashes between Punjab police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers has held 10 police officers responsible, while giving a clean chit to the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister, Express News reported.
On June 17, 2014, at least 14 workers of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s party were killed and 90 were in injured in clashes with police in Model Town, Lahore.
After the first inquiry team was rejected by the leadership of PAT, a new five-member JIT was formed, headed by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema, AIG Discipline at CPO SSP Shehzad Akbar, DSP CIA Khalid Abubakar and one official each from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Read: Model town tragedy: Was unaware of operation carried out by police against PAT workers, says Shahbaz
The JIT’s report states Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other federal ministers, including the officers of DIG- and CCPO-level were not involved in the incident.
However, it adds SP Security Salman Khan was present with the police officers at the time of the incident. When PAT workers pelted stones as well as patrol bombs on the police, it was SP Salman who ordered the firing, and had fired bullets hilself as well.
Besides the SP, those who have been held responsible for the killings of PAT workers include SHO Amir Saleem, two sub-inspectors of the Elite Force, seven constables.
Read: New JIT formed to probe Model Town tragedy
Five of the officers are already under custody whereas the arrest of the remaining will be decided by the law enforcers.
Based on the August 28 FIR lodged by Minhajul Quran (MuQ), the Punjab government had finally formed a new investigation team but it was rejected by the PAT leadership.
A joint investigation team probing last year’s deadly clashes between Punjab police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers has held 10 police officers responsible, while giving a clean chit to the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister, Express News reported.
On June 17, 2014, at least 14 workers of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s party were killed and 90 were in injured in clashes with police in Model Town, Lahore.
After the first inquiry team was rejected by the leadership of PAT, a new five-member JIT was formed, headed by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema, AIG Discipline at CPO SSP Shehzad Akbar, DSP CIA Khalid Abubakar and one official each from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Read: Model town tragedy: Was unaware of operation carried out by police against PAT workers, says Shahbaz
The JIT’s report states Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other federal ministers, including the officers of DIG- and CCPO-level were not involved in the incident.
However, it adds SP Security Salman Khan was present with the police officers at the time of the incident. When PAT workers pelted stones as well as patrol bombs on the police, it was SP Salman who ordered the firing, and had fired bullets hilself as well.
Besides the SP, those who have been held responsible for the killings of PAT workers include SHO Amir Saleem, two sub-inspectors of the Elite Force, seven constables.
Read: New JIT formed to probe Model Town tragedy
Five of the officers are already under custody whereas the arrest of the remaining will be decided by the law enforcers.
Based on the August 28 FIR lodged by Minhajul Quran (MuQ), the Punjab government had finally formed a new investigation team but it was rejected by the PAT leadership.