Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah were all cleared by the joint investigation team (JIT) formed for the express purpose of investigating the Model Town killing case.
At least 14 supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), including a few women, were killed and over a 100 were injured during an armed clash with police at Minhaj ul Quran Secretariat in Model Town area of Lahore in June last year.
PAT head Dr Tahir-ul Qadri accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and others of direct involvement in the killings of PAT’s supporters and registered a case under anti-terrorism laws.
The government then set up a joint investigation team to probe the issue.
According to the JIT, DIG Operation, who was leading the police party, had no contact with Chief Minister and the then Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
The report laid the blame on SSP Security Salman Ali and 10 others cops. It further claimed that SSP Security had ordered fire on the demonstrators, resulting in fatalities.
In addition, the JIT said that both sides used firearms and clashed with each other.
Meanwhile PAT leader Dr Raheeq Abbasi denounced the report as a pack of lies.”The JIT was made to give a clean to chit to the killers,” he said.
“We also strongly condemn JIT’s allegations that shots were fired from our side.