Model Town case: Court demands production of police officials

Published December 19, 2020
This file photo shows policemen clashing with PAT workers during the 2014 Model Town incident.
This file photo shows policemen clashing with PAT workers during the 2014 Model Town incident.

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday expressed dismay over non-appearance of the suspects in the Model Town incident’s trial and directed the deputy inspector general (DIG) operations to produce them on Saturday (today).

Presiding Judge Ijaz Buttar also summoned Lahore Capital City Police Officer Umar Sheikh if the police failed to ensure appearance of the suspects.

Former inspector general of police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, former DIG (operations) Rana Abdul Jabbar and other police officials had been indicted in the private complaint filed by Idara Minhajul Quran, a sister organisation of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

However, Sukhera and several others had been granted exemption from personal appearance in the trial proceedings.

At least 14 people were killed and over 100 injured during an anti-encroachment operation outside the Model Town residence of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on June 17, 2014.

BAIL: An anti-terrorism court on Friday confirmed the interim pre-arrest bails of former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq, former provincial minister Khwaja Salman Rafiq and five others in a 2018 case registered against them on charges of resorting to violent protests when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the country to serve his sentence.

All the leaders appeared before the court along with their lawyers.

The court confirmed their bails and directed the police to establish its case in the trial proceedings.

The North Cantonment police station had registered the first information report under Section 7 of ATA and other provisions of the PPC.

On July 13, 2018, Mr Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz had landed at the Lahore airport where they were arrested and shifted to jail to serve sentences in accountability references.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.