LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek has decided to hold a countrywide protest on June 17 for denial of justice in the Model Town tragedy that took place seven years ago and barring the impartial joint investigation team from working.

A decision to the effect was taken at a meeting of the core committee of the PAT here on Sunday.

Party general secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur regrets that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which in opposition days had been siding with PAT in seeking justice in the Model Town tragedy, has failed to make any progress on the case despite being in power for the last three years.

He laments that all directions of the Supreme Court regarding dispensing of immediate justice in the case have also been ignored.

The cases ‘fabricated’ during the PML-N government against the PAT Quaid and workers have also not been quashed yet, he says, adding the police officers involved in the tragedy have been promoted instead of being penalised.

Mr Gandapur says the core committee also decided to fully participate in Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections and launch PAT candidates from each constituency. It also formed a committee to prepare a working plan for the party.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021