News Analysis |
In a development that took Pakistani media by storm today, the Lahore High Court ordered Punjab Govt.to make public Justice Najfi report on Model Town Killings of June 2014. Justice Baqir Najfi, a one-judge judicial commission, was appointed by Punjab’s Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, in June 2014, to investigate the tragedy in which almost 100 innocent people were shot and 14 died. But the report when submitted to the government was not made public – saying it was a merely an enquiry report, under the Enquiry Act 1959 and is meant for the government. Punjab Govt went on setting up, one after the other, two Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) to investigate.
On June 17, 2014, police attacked Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town over the barriers lying in front of the Secretariat. This clash killed over 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers and injured over 100.
In February 2015, prominent anchor person, Kamran Shahid on his ‘On the Front’ TV program with Rana Sanaullah revealed that in this report the Justice had held the Punjab government as being “directly responsible” for the deaths and injured that night at Minhajul Quran Secretariat.
In August 2017, the families of those dead approached the Lahore High court asking that the Justice Ali Baqar Najafi report into the killings of Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s workers be made public. The writ petition was filed relying mainly on Article 19(A) of the Constitution, which gives the right to have access to information to all citizens on matters of public interest.
In February 2015, prominent anchor person, Kamran Shahid on his ‘On the Front’ TV program with Rana Sanaullah revealed that in this report the Justice had held the Punjab government as being “directly responsible” for the deaths and injured that night at Minhajul Quran Secretariat.
Read more: The Massacre in Model Town: terrorism by the House of Sharifs
Rana Sanaullah in this program accused Kamran Shahid of being the agent of foreign intelligence agencies and conspiring against the government.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jrFEKxR8LM
While talking to the press today, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has called it a historical verdict. “Shahbaz Sharif has now no right to remain in Chief Minister office,” he said. He further asserted that Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, Toqeer Shah and Saad Rafique are involved in the tragedy.
Read more: Will Dr. Qadri achieve justice for Model Town victims?
The government of Punjab has said it will appeal against this decision as soon as it receives the written opinion from the court.
Media has reacted to the decision:
Model Town incident: LHC to hear pleas regarding judicial inquiry on September 25 https://t.co/e5KCWeRR1Jpic.twitter.com/GoljIzvwqt
— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) September 21, 2017
LHC orders to public Model Town incident Justice Baqir Najfi’s inquiry report. Now @CMShehbaz also in Hot Water
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) September 21, 2017