The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Thursday announced that it would stage countrywide protests from Friday (today) over the decision of a joint investigation team (JIT) — constituted to investigate last year’s Model Town tragedy — to exonerate Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah from charges of ordering or abetting police action against the supporters of PAT chief Tahirul Qadri.
Addressing a press conference, PAT President Raheeq Abbasi and Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur announced countrywide protests and demanded the transfer of the case to a military court. Both men also demanded formation of a new, unbiased JIT which should not comprise members of the police.
“Police is also a suspect in the incident therefore it should be kept out of the JIT,” they said.
The party leaders further complained that government, during the sit-ins, had promised to form the JIT through a mutual agreement between PAT and government but this did not happen. Moreover, PAT demanded the government change the Model Town JIT’s head as well, alleging the current head of JIT of holding close ties with Sharif family.
Last year on November 13, the government had formed a five-member JIT to probe into the Model Town incident. Other than law enforcement agencies, the probe also included representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI).
At least 14 workers of PAT were killed and over 100 people were injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers in Model Town, Lahore.
