A local court in Faisalabad on Friday acquitted all suspects accused of killing a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker during a protest demonstration near Novelty Bridge in 2014.
On December 8, 2014, PTI worker Haq Nawaz was killed after a scuffle had broken out between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PTI workers during an anti-government demonstration.
According to reports, the acquittal was made after the brother of the slain PTI worker Ataullah Khan submitted a letter of reconciliation in the court, clearing all those who had been implicated in the case.
Following the incident, the government had formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the incident as the PTI held five persons responsible for the tragic incident.
However, last month the JIT had exonerated Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, his son-in-law Rana Sheharyar, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, MPA Tahir Jameel and DCO Noorul Amin Mengal from the case.
The PTI and complainant of the case both had rejected the JIT when it was formed, with the PTI claiming “all the three members of the JIT are blue-eyed persons of Rana Sanaullah.”
They termed the JIT formation a “calculated move to absolve the main accused” from the charges, calling for members of intelligence agencies ISI, IB and MI to be part of the team.
Samanabad police had registered the case on complaint of the deceased’s brother Attaullah Khan.
Attaullah had contended that his brother was participating in the December 8 shutter-down when scuffles erupted between the PTI and PML-N activists and Haq received a gun shot near Novelty Bridge.
However, Rana Sanaullah in a press conference on December 9 had denied his hand in the killing of the PTI worker. He had also claimed that Haq Nawaz was allegedly shot dead by PTI itself or some other outfits intending to create chaos and uncertainty in the county.
