LAHORE: The single-judge tribunal inquiring into Model Town incident has summoned former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah and chief minister’s former principal secretary Dr Tauqir Shah.

On the third day of hearing on Saturday, the tribunal comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was told that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif removed the law minister and his own secretary in the wake of Model Town mayhem.

Many lawyers present during the proceedings urged the tribunal to summon both Rana Sanaullah and Dr Tauqir Shah to know the facts of the incident. They said their removal showed their role or negligence in conducting the operation outside Minhajul Quran secretariat that caused bloodshed.

Justice Najafi observed: “This tribunal deems it appropriate that in view of the recent developments, the former law minister Rana Sanaullah and the former principal secretary to chief minister, Punjab, Dr Tauqir Shah, should be summoned.”

He directed law and home secretaries to ensure the appearance of the both before the tribunal on the next hearing.

The tribunal also sought a report from the home secretary regarding possibility of constitution of a Joint Investigation Team to probe into the matter. It further directed Punjab Baitul Mal secretary to appear in person to inform the tribunal about possibility of payment of any kind of compensation to the victims.

The Punjab health secretary was also summoned with autopsy reports of deceased persons and medical reports of those seriously injured in the unfortunate incident.

The tribunal expressed serious dismay over non-appearance of Lahore District Coordination Officer Capt (retired) Muhammad Usman.

It also directed Punjab police Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera, who was present there, to submit reports on progress in the case on a daily basis without fail, otherwise, an adverse inference may be drawn.

The proceedings were adjourned for Monday (tomorrow).

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2014