Model Town case: SC to hear petition for formation of new JIT

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A two-judge bench headed by CJP will hear petition on Nov 19. Photo: File

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Saturday fixed November 19 as the date for hearing of a petition seeking the formation of a new joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the Model Town incident.

At least 14 people were killed and 100 others injured in police action against Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in Lahore's Model Town area during an 'anti-encroachment operation' on June 17, 2014.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on October 6 took notice on the petition of Bisma Amjad, who had been affected by the incident.

A bench headed by the chief justice at the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry heard Bisma’s petition today and fixed November 19 as the date for its hearing.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Nisar will hear the petition on Monday.

The court issued notices to former premier Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif in this regard. A copy of the court notice has also been sent to Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Daniyal Aziz, Pervaiz Rashid, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Asif, Abid Sher Ali and other respondents in the case.

Model Town report

The Punjab government, at the behest of the Lahore High Court, had made the report of the Model Town incident public on December 5, 2017.

The inquiry report, prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission, said that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters.

It adds that no legal opinion was sought from the Punjab advocate general prior to the start of the operation.

The commission, in its report, also stated that on the ground, the standoff continued the whole night, resulting in minor injuries to police constables as well as PAT workers.

The commission observed: "The level of cooperation in digging out the truth is that no police official from top to bottom, whether actively participated in the operation or not, did utter a single word about the person under whose command the police resorted to firing upon the PAT workers."

Further, in its conclusion, the commission said, "It is shocking to note that everyone has deliberately but unsuccessfully tried to cover each other from possible adverse legal effects."