LAHORE: The Minhajul Quran’s FIR on June 17 killings in the Model Town was finally registered on Thursday in accordance with court orders, but without any reference to the Anti-Terrorism Act, reportedly in deference to the government’s desire.

Police had earlier registered a case against Minhajul Quran activists on behalf of the state but refused to entertain a similar request by the latter.

At least 11 activists, including two women, of Minhajul Quran, a sister organisation of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek, were killed and dozens others injured during clashes with police on June 17.

The FIR was registered after a political decision taken by the PML-N government. The FIR names as suspects 21 people, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, under sections 302 (murder), 324 (hurt), 109 (abetment), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Pakistan Penal Code and 155 C of Police Order 2002 (different kind of misconduct by police officers).

The case was registered on the order of a Lahore additional district and sessions judge which was challenged but upheld by the Lahore High Court, and on an opinion by the DSP legal operations, Lahore. The opinion has been duly approved by the DIG (operations) Lahore.

Former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been booked under sections 302, 307 (cases in which Qisas for qatl-i-amd shall not be enforced), 109, 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the PPC. The court had added Section 111 (liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done) of the PPC.

Police officials said that in the department’s opinion ATA clauses did not apply in this case. However, the complainant could approach the court concerned for the inclusion of relevant ATA clauses.

They said none of the accused had been arrested as per the direction of the Lahore High Court which stated “arrest of a suspect or accused is not necessary during the course of investigation and that the arrest of accused is to be deferred till the availability of incriminating evidence.”

According to the FIR lodged on a complaint of Jawad Ahmad of Minhajul Quran International, he and Hafiz Mohammad Waqar and Tayyab Zia Norani were at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat in M-Block, Model Town, at around 1am on June 17 when they heard some noise and came out of the building to see a heavily armed police contingent, with bulldozers, cranes and loader trucks around the residence of Dr Tahirul Qadri.

“As we went closer to Mr Qadri’s residence, we came to know that police who were led by Lahore DIG (Operations) Abdul Jabbar and Model Town SP (Operations) Tariq Aziz had come to remove security barriers and iron fences. Also accompanied with them were the Model Town Assistant Commissioner, Town Municipal Officer, SPs Maroof Safdar Wahla Umer Riaz Cheema, Salman Ali Khan, Kahna SHO Ishtiaq, Nishtar Colony SHO Ahmad Usman Majeed and other unidentified police officers.

“Police were told that the security measures were made four years ago on the direction of the high court and police as protective measures and written orders could be produced to police.

“In reply, the DIG operations said police had received strict orders from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to wipe out Mr Qadri and his family even at the cost of uncalculated casualties.

“After a hue and cry, some people from neighbourhood, including Mian Javed Iqbal and Mumtaz Ahmad, and some media people also gathered there and started protesting against police who arrived without any prior notice. Police resorted to teargas shelling on the orders of the DIG and the SP and also fired bullets at the gate of Mr Qadri’s residence. Later police started breaking cement barriers and lifting broken material. A security post was also demolished and copies of Holy Quran kept there fell on the ground. After seeing this on television more people gathered at the spot.

“The DIG kept receiving directions from some higher authority during the course of time and the activity continued...

“As cranes and bulldozers began to move towards Dr Qadri’s residence on the orders of the DIG and the SPs, some people, including women, who had assembled there, formed a human wall in front of the gate. The DIG ordered gunmen accompanying him to shoot them if they did not move away after he counted three.

“The DIG briskly counted three and police opened fire. Two women, identified as Tanzeela Amjad and Shazia Murtaza, suffered bullet injuries and later died at a hospital.

“People lodged a protest over police brutality, but police continued firing, leaving another six people dead and 100 others injured. Safdar Hussain, Umer Raza, Mohammad Iqbal, Asim Hussian, Ghulam Rasool and Rizwan Khan (student of Minhaj Shaia College) died. The DIG and the SP then ordered Model Town DSP Aftab Ahmad and Faisal Town SHO Rizwan Hashmi to move policemen to the secretariat and demolish it.

“Some other officers also reached the secretariat along with reserves and ransacked it. The receptionist and the security in-charge were beaten up and detained by police. Policemen also damaged the property, snatched licensed weapons from security guards and purse and mobile phones from some women. Policemen also fired shots within the secretariat.

“In the meantime, Shahbaz Sharif’s blue-eyed Gullu Butt kept damaging some parked vehicles and removing valuables as the police watched. Butt was also hugged by police officers.

“The motive behind the action was the 10-point agenda of Dr Qadri he had announced for the welfare of the people of Pakistan and his arrival on June 23 which unnerved the rulers who gave a message to our leader by intimidating and killing our workers...

“Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Asif, Pervez Rasheed, Abid Sher Ali and Chaudhry Nisar ordered police officers to ransack Mr Qadri’s residence. The incident took place under orders given by them. They are equally responsible for the bloodshed and damage to the property.

“The post-mortem and MLC reports of all victims have been kept secret from us which will be presented after availability. The whole evidence of brutal killings is available on television footage. This state terrorism committed by police at the behest of the rulers triggered fear and terror in the entire locality.”

The complainant said a fake FIR had earlier been lodged against PAT people by police on their own.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014