LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday appeared before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and recorded his statement as a nominated suspect in last year’s Model Town carnage.

At least 14 workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were killed and more than 80 suffered bullet wounds in a clash with law enforcement personnel outside Dr Tahirul Qadri’s residence in Model Town on June 17, 2014.

Faisal Town police had lodged an FIR against several stalwarts of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and the then law minister Rana Sanaullah, following a sessions court order that was also upheld by the Lahore High Court.

In his statement, the chief minister reportedly denied allegations of any role in the killings of PAT workers. The CM said he had instructed the police team to retreat at 9am on the day of incident.

He said he had also immediately transferred all police and civil officials responsible for the killings. He denied having issued any order to Punjab Police for an operation in Model Town.

Shahbaz Sharif said he was not even aware about the city district government’s action to remove barriers outside Tahirul Qadri’s residence in Model Town.

The PAT had earlier questioned the legality of the JIT formed by the Punjab government to probe the Model Town firing incident.

PAT Secretary General Khurrum Nawaz Gandapur issued a press release, which alleged that the JIT had welcomed the CM and saluted him. He said during the party’s Islamabad sit-in, PAT had questioned the partiality of the JIT and had also suggested some names for the investigation team, but to no avail.

Gandapur said that no one from victims’ families appeared before the JIT to submit their statements because they did not trust the investigation.

Know more: PAT desires military court take up Model Town case.

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesman Zaeem Qadri said Shahbaz Sharif had established a great precedent by appearing before the JIT team to record his statement. He said PAT should trust national institutions including the JIT.