Summary Pistols matching the bullets have been recovered from MU, claims the joint investigation team
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Five Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers involved in the firing incident in Lahore have been tracked down by the Joint Investigation Team during the investigation of the Model Town Tragedy.
According to the sources, the investigative team that consists of officials from various institutions has been remarkably successful in spooring significant evidences. According to the investigation, 12 rounds had been fired from two Kalashnikovs that were recovered from Minhaj University. The shells of which are a perfect match to the guns.
Three other pistols recovered from the university have also matched the bullets. 34 bullets fired from the pistol have been matched so far. It seems like the investigation team has tracked down the culprits who fired the shots but has not yet taken the decision to take them into custody.
Another aspect that has been unrevealed during the investigation is that the decisions to summon the elite forces in Model Town incident was taken haphazardly neither were the elite forces trained to handle the protestors.
On the other hand, the formulation of a judicial tribunal for the investigation of Model Town tragedy had been challenged in the court and the case was heard in Lahore High Court. The court expressed rage since no response had been submitted by the Punjab government as advised.
- BACKGROUND -
At least eight people including two women were killed during violent clash between the supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and police on June 17.
The clash began when supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) tried to stop police from removing hurdles outside their leader’s house in Lahore’s Model Town area.
"We received seven dead bodies including two women. All of them had bullet wounds," said Dr. Abdul Rauf, Medical Superintendent at the city s Jinnah Hospital. "We also received 80 injured, 40 with bullet injuries and 40 with other wounds. Two injured are critical," he said.
Muhammad Rizwan, another member of the medical staff, confirmed that the dead bodies were received.
Abdul Jabbar, a senior police officer, told AFP the clashes began when police went to the office of Qadri s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), meaning Pakistan People s Movement , in the city's Model Town suburb on the night of June 16.
"The PAT activists resisted the operations which caused clashes between the protesters and police," he said.
"We went to the area again during the morning with additional force. The PAT activists pelted stones on policemen and our force used tear gas to disperse them. We managed to complete the operation and remove the barriers despite the resistance," he added.
A spokesman for the PAT said up to 12 workers had been killed.
"They launched this operation to counter our peaceful movement and the green revolution promised by Doctor Tahir ul Qadri," he said. "We pelted stones to resist direct firing by police over protesters. We have information that 12 of our workers have been killed," he added.
Shahid Mursaleen, another spokesman for the party, accused Prime Minister Sharif of having a direct hand in the killings. "These killings have been made on the orders of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. We will register police cases against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and their team," he said. "We are a peaceful party but if such brutal acts by the government continue, our workers will come on roads and then they will get out of Doctor Qadri s control," he added.
- REACTION OF OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES -
Political and religious leaders condemned police torture on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced to observe day of mourning on June 18 to express sympathy with PAT.
Opposition parties staged walkout from National Assembly and Punjab Assembly and protested over the incident.
Opposition in Punjab Assembly held protest and shouted slogans against the government. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders said that Sharif Brothers have attacked democracy.
Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said that the government was not serving the democracy by carrying out such acts. He said was the government intending to derail democracy in the country.
PTI chief Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said that the Punjab government invaded PAT. He said the government should explain where such incidents would lead the country. On this occasion, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that bloodshed was carried out in Lahore.
PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi, while addressing a press conference, condemned the police torture on PAT workers. He said this brutal act against democracy shows that the days of the present government are numbered.
Pervez Ilahi said that the PML-Q also ran government in the province but never reacted in such a way that took lives of the innocent citizens.
The PML-Q leader said that Sharif Brothers were agents of Narendra Modi and they were taking revenge from the nation for supporting Pakistan Army.
- REACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT -
Punjab Chief Shahbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and sought report from I.G of Punjab, Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera in this regard.
On the other hand, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that facts about the violent clash would be made public. He said that Tahirul Qadri would not be allowed to make any no-go area in Punjab. He said Tahirul Qadri has no role in restoration of Constitution and democracy in the country.
