Summary Rana Sanaullah and Tauqeer Shah appeared before the commission and recorded statements.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Former Law Minister of Punjab Rana Sanaullah has said that he did not order the police to open fire on protesting Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers in Lahore s Model Town area on June 17, Dunya News reported.
Rana Sanaullah appeared before the judicial commission today (Monday) to record his statement.
During the proceedings, Rana Sanaullah stated that a meeting was summoned to review law and order situation regarding long march of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadir after his arrival in Pakistan.
Rana Sanaullah said the Commissioner reported in the meeting that the barriers around Minhajul Quran were creating disturbance for the public after which he ordered to remove the barriers from there, however people at Minhajul Quran resisted and clashed with police that worsened the situation. He said that he did not order police to open fire.
Rana Sana told the commission that Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) informed him that the barriers had been removed and situation was under control.
Former principal secretary to Punjab CM, Dr Tauqeer Shah told the commission that Punjab Chief Minister had ordered police to withdraw the position but later it was seen through media that several people were killed in firing. He said the chief minister expressed his annoyance over not briefing him on the situation in time.
Meanwhile, reports of Home Secretary and Deputy Commissioner were also submitted to the commission. The former CCPO pleaded to the commission seeking permission for giving in-camera briefing. The commission accepted the plea.
During the proceedings, the lawyers raised objection over the legal status of the commission. Upon this, Justice Justice Ali Baqir Najafi remarked that the management of Minhajul Quran management enjoys right to raise question about the prevailing system and refusal to appear before the commission.
He said it not the task of the tribunal to award sentence or suspend it but to probe into the incident. He said the tribunal was exercising its full authority.
When Rana Sanaullah left the courtroom, a large number of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers and lawyers gathered and made uproar damaging flower vases decorated outside the court of Chief Justice LHC.
It may be mentioned here that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif removed Rana Sanaullah from provincial law minister’s post on June 20 after deadly clashes between PAT workers and police claimed lives of twelve people including two women.
