Model Town tragedy: SP issued 'firing' orders, report reveals

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

LAHORE: The initial report of the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to investigate the Model Town tragedy revealed that Superintendent of Police (SP) Sulaiman had ordered elite force personnel to open fire on protesters, DawnNews reported.

In a statement recorded to the JIT, Elite Force in-charge Abdul Rauf said Sulaiman had ordered Elite Force personnel to target protesters on their legs.

After receiving the order from Sulaiman, Station House Officer (SHO) Sabzazar Sheikh Amir Saleem and other Elite Force personnel fired shots at demonstrators that resulted in several deaths.

In light of the statement recorded by Abdul Rauf, further investigation against Saleem and other Elite Force personnel is underway.

On Wednesday, the JIT took SHO Sabzazar and eight personnel of the Elite Police Force into ‘custody’ for questioning.

Also read: SHO among nine personnel held in Model Town case

At least eleven PAT workers were killed and over 100 people were injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers in Lahore's Model Town.

Also read: Youth, women among seven killed in PAT supporters' clash with police

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Israr Khan Ismailzai

Jul 11, 2014 02:23pm

And now the blame game starts, to protect the big fish.

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Dr. Qureshi

Jul 11, 2014 02:23pm

Shariffs turned out be be not so Shariffs!

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Mohammad Akhtar

Jul 11, 2014 02:28pm

Police and police command was not trained properly to deal this kind of situation. They should have used the tear gas or rubber proof bullets if the crowd violent but not firing 'em on the leg. May be some Police did not target the leg or they were not sharp shooter so they just open the fire. This only happens in Pakistan.

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Hassan

Jul 11, 2014 02:34pm

scape goat

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atif

Jul 11, 2014 02:36pm

this sp would get a big payment for his wafadari and will live happily ever after

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catzal

Jul 11, 2014 02:38pm

That's why China is establishing a rail link to send its goods to pakistan and other countries from gwadar seaport and pakistan will become singapore and can become rich by acting as a trade pitstop. Think about the chinese gameplan to make pakistan the richest country in Asia, any country that wants to trade with china has to transit through pakistan through gwadar seaport and vice versa. Indeed Future is changing for Pakistan and fast , it is going from being a failed state to a super state. So Pakistan doesn't need India anymore.

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ghuman

Jul 11, 2014 02:39pm

Poor Sp is going to be shabaz sharif scape goat now.both brothers will sarifice anyone and everyone to save themselves

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Haider

Jul 11, 2014 03:18pm

JIT in an Earlier report had said no bullets fired. Suddenly, this report, I am confused now.

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Raza Dost Chanesar

Jul 11, 2014 03:26pm

Conclusions are clear. Rana Sana Ullah and Khwaja Saad Sra did it and they should be hanged. Its very simple if we want Pakistan to respect rule of law.

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IKE

Jul 11, 2014 03:59pm

It reminds me the Z.A Bhutto and his Elite Federal Security Force (FSF). That FSF was created for political purposes and that is what it was used for. FSF did all the dirty work, kidnapping, killing and even had a gulag called Dali Camp, where it imprisoned political rivals. Now we have Elite Police Force. One can see that there is nothing Elite about this force. It has no skill set or tactic or training to deal with a politically charged environment. All it has is shear force. Its basic purpose is to mostly stand guard to Sharifs and their families. It is really a useless expenditure. Eventually, this Elite force will meet the same fate like that of Bhutto's FSF. Most of these men will end up in jail for committing crimes, like the model town.

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Mian Kashif Mumtaz

Jul 11, 2014 04:13pm

Shahbaz sharif is is trying to shift the responsibility by creating such scapegoat.

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venkataramana

Jul 11, 2014 04:20pm

@catzal No country needs another country unless it follows very wrong policies.Anyway,in the context of this article,India is not in the picture at all.

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nina

Jul 11, 2014 04:35pm

Why would a CM burn his own home, his city, his people when he is known for efficient administration for public welfare.

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Aftab Alam Khan

Jul 11, 2014 05:14pm

Order for targeting on legs of the protestors had claimed eleven lives and hundred injured.................is this not a case of resignation of concerned Chief Minister?

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Khan

Jul 11, 2014 05:26pm

And who ordered this SP to open fire and so on it will end up with the not so honorable now CM.

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True

Jul 11, 2014 05:47pm

@catzal what about Chinese policy of not allowing their muslim population specially young students not fast during Ramazn, why you Pakistani always depend on another country to help you become something do you have any brain to use ? Always your hands ready for hand out ???shame

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Maverick

Jul 11, 2014 06:30pm

Sick and tired of our people's negative and pessimistic thinking! The big reason for our current image in the world. We never ever are satisfied with anything. ALL WE CAN DO IS BLAME BLAME AND JUST BLAME ! GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!

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AKNasser

Jul 11, 2014 06:41pm

"Elite Police Force" to protect elite, that is what it does. . SHO is in no position to open fire - Elite force opened fire on the order of a senior officer. Lower rank is being made scapegoat to protect the higher ups.

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M aslam

Jul 11, 2014 07:07pm

JIT should investigate who appoint and promoted SP Sulaiman. It appears he has sympathies with Parvaiz Illahi and Shujaat Hussain- Sardar of Lottas. It was their requirement to produce dead bodies, so that their Inqalabi politices take ground to start. TUQ should also be very carefull for his life. These people can arrange for his murder and get the benefit of that.

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M aslam

Jul 11, 2014 07:09pm

@atif It is sure that he get big payment, but not from Shahbaz, rather from Shujjat and Parvaiz Illahi and Tahir. and provide them ground for agitation.

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M aslam

Jul 11, 2014 07:11pm

@Haider You are confused because you belong to confused leader. Did he tell them until now what is meaning of his Inqilab and what is way forward, except that he arrange to produce 16 dead bodies.

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Dr Haseeb Bhutta

Jul 11, 2014 09:23pm

No responsibility lies upon any sp or police constable......the sole responsibility lies upon shehbaz,sanaullah an IG pokice

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ahmed

Jul 11, 2014 09:27pm

@Mohammad Akhtar; This is an unfortunate situation but the fact is if the mob was attacking police, they by constitution have the right to retaliate forcibly. We need to make our Police Strong but they should become honest otherwise it will be a disaster.

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Sajjad king khan

Jul 12, 2014 01:29am

How can an sp take the whole account on his own accord ! No superiors in place ? So what next ?

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chnasir

Jul 12, 2014 05:29am

Then SP's, DIG etc must take responsibility towards the deceased and officially apologize and ask the SC to justify by receiving FIR's from MQI TUQ and compensate for the losses. It is absolutely appropriate to also blame others involved on ministry level. The truth must be revealed. Sharifs are not Kings & Knights of Pakistan, and must bow to the justice, as all other Paks.

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