Fourteen people had been killed and scores others injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers.—File
On December 5, the Punjab government found itself in a tight spot as it was ordered by the Lahore High Court to make public Justice Baqar Najafi's report on the violent Model Town incident of 2014, in which 14 supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri were killed.
The damning report was released later that day and Justice Najafi's conclusions made clear why the Punjab government had fought tooth and nail to prevent its release.
Editorial: Justice Najafi’s report
The judge found that it was the determination of the then Punjab minister for parliamentary affairs Rana Sanaullah to prevent Qadri from holding a long march from Lahore to Islamabad that influenced the police's heavy-handed strategy in dealing with the protesters.
The report said that the "facts and circumstances of the bloodbath show that the police officers actively participated in the massacre." It stated that provincial authorities had proceeded with "apathy and recklessness" against Qadri's supporters.
It was a victory for Qadri and his efforts to seek justice for his supporters.
In the days following the report's release, he called for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sanuallah resignations . He also demanded the removal of suspected bureaucrats and police officials from active duty in addition to the formation of a joint investigation team to probe the incident.
PPP, PTI and the Awami National Party have all voiced support for Qadri .
Sharif and Sanaullah have been warned by Qadri to resign by Dec 31 or face a protest movement for their ouster.
Indian spy in Pakistan: Military tribunal sentences Jadhav to death
On April 10, the sensational story of the Indian spy that began in March 2016 and witnessed several twists, climaxed when a Field General Court Martial in Pakistan sentenced Kulbashan Jadhav to death over charges of espionage and terrorism.
The death sentence was announced after a trial was conducted by the military tribunal. The lack of transparency in Jadhav's trial in Pakistan, however, raised questions across the border.
Explore: Transcript of RAW agent Kulbhushan’s confessional statement
In Pakistan, Jadhav's confession of carrying out terrorist acts in the country and the sentence against him were seen as proof of Indian interference in domestic affairs. In India, it was seen as an act of premeditated murder and roughly a month after the sentence was announced, India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Pakistan, accusing the latter of violating the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
India maintained that Pakistan, despite repeated requests, had denied consular access to Jadhav and sought to restrain Pakistan from carrying out the death sentence against him.
Read more: Who is Kulbushan Jadhav?
At the ICJ, Pakistan challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case. The argument was rejected and the execution was stayed.
The case is currently being heard at the ICJ.
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