News Analysis |
Prime Minister Imran Khan called Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr. Tahir Ul Qadri to discuss the LHC verdict on summoning former PM Nawaz Sharif and former CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for the model town carnage trial. The PM assured the PAT chief that he will not let the culprits of the model town massacre “escape the justice system”. The PM said that Justice will be brought to the victims at all costs.
“We will not make any compromise on the implementation of law,” the Premier said. Vowing to bring all those involved in the incident before the courts indiscriminately, PM Imran said, “Immediate justice in civil and criminal cases is one of the top priorities of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.”
The Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek organized a coalition stage-in for the dismissal of the Sharif government with the model town massacre being one of the agenda-points.
PAT chief in response said, “PM Imran has given a ray of hope to the families of the Model Town victims.” Thanking the premier, Qadri said, “PM Imran’s vision for upholding the law is commendable.” While speaking to the press today 27th September 2018, the PAT Chief said that he was not satisfied with the verdict of the LHC.
Read more: LHC turns down PAT’s request to summon Sharifs in Model Town…
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday, 26th September, had turned down Pakistan Awami Tehreek‘s (PAT) plea that sought to summon ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother, former Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) Shahbaz Sharif and ten other ministers in a case pertaining to the Model Town carnage of 2014. A three-member bench announced the verdict which had been reserved on June 28th.
In a 2:1 judgment, the tri-member bench rejected the appeal where Justice Alia Neelum and Justice Ahmed Naeem ruled against summoning 12 individuals in the case while Justice Qasim Ali Khan gave a dissenting note. However, ex-Inspector General of Punjab Police (IG) Mushtaq Sukhera was directed to appear in the court. The former top cop had been IGP Punjab at the time of the carnage.
The PM assured the PAT chief that he will not let the culprits of the model town massacre “escape the justice system”. The PM said that Justice will be brought to the victims at all costs.
The PAT Chief further said that Justice Baqir Najfi’s report, which was made public, last year after being withheld for three years, corroborated with Justice Qasim’s verdict. The PAT Chief also discussed the alleged ‘hijacking’ that he had faced when his plane, an Emirates flight, was diverted from Lahore to Islamabad in June 2014. Dr. Qadri, at the time, was traveling from Canada to Lahore, a week after the model town carnage and had called for strikes.
Read more: Tahir ul Qadri expects Imran Khan to deliver justice for Model…
On June 17, 2014, Punjab police went to remove the barriers placed outside PAT Chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri’s residence and MQI Secretariat in Model Town. The workers of Minhaj Ul Quran resisted the move which led to a deadly clash leaving 14 workers dead and dozens injured.
On 14th August 2014, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek organized a coalition stage-in for the dismissal of the Sharif government with the model town massacre being one of the agenda-points.