Govt finalises JIT to probe Model Town killings

Published November 18, 2014
Fourteen people had been killed and scores others injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers. -AFP/File
Fourteen people had been killed and scores others injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers. -AFP/File

LAHORE: The government on Tuesday finalised the formation of a five-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the killings of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers on June 17, DawnNews reported.

The JIT will start investigations from Wednesday.

The investigation team will be led by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema and will also comprise Col Ahmed from Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), Muhammad Ali from Intelligence Bureau (IB), SSP Shahzad Akbar and DSP Khalid Abu Bakar.

The PAT has rejected the probe, saying that Abdul Razzaq Cheema has personal relations with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and would not be impartial.

PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Friday rejected the probe, saying that he refused to accept any JIT either formed under the Punjab police or without the resignation of Shahbaz Sharif.

Read more: Qadri rejects JIT, asks Army chief to 'keep his promises'

The five-member JIT, was notified by the Punjab government on Thursday about two and-a-half months after a sessions court ordered registration of a fresh First Information Report (FIR) on a complaint of the PAT.

Fourteen people had been killed and scores others injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers.

The PAT later registered a FIR against 21 people, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.

The killing led to anti-government protests led by PAT chief Tahirul Qadri who also staged a two month long sit-in in Islamabad.

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