Summary When informed that situation was worsening, I immediately ordered to pull the Police back: CM Punjab
LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif submitted his affidavit before the Model Town Inquiry Tribunal today (Saturday). Advocate General Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif Khatana personally submitted the affidavit before the court. Tribunal ordered the affidavit to be read aloud.
Chief Minister Punjab has stated in his affidavit that it was through TV that he learned about heavy Police deployment outside Minhajul Quran International (MQI) Secretariat in Model Town. “I called Principal Secretary Tauqeer Shah to inquire about the matter immediately”, states the affidavit. Principal Secretary told the Chief Minister that a meeting was presided over by the then Law Minister of Punjab Rana Sanaullah at the Civil Secretariat, a day earlier, in which barriers outside MQI Secretariat were decided to be removed, on Commissioner’s report, according to the details of the affidavit. Principal Secretary told the Chief Minister that Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers were protesting against the decision.
According to CM Punjab, he directed Tauqeer Shah to keep a strict check on the situation and that there should be no harm done to anyone.
The affidavit further states that Chief Minister was attending Chief Justice of Lahore High Court’s oath-taking ceremony at Governor House when he was informed that a large number of Police personnel and PAT workers had gathered outside MQI Secretariat. CM was informed at this time that the situation could get worse so he immediately ordered the police to fall back, according to the statement.
From Governor House, the chief Minister moved to Model Town. He was meeting a foreign delegation when he was told that a violent clash had taken place outside the MQI Secretariat and several people had been killed while various others were injured, states the affidavit.
The Chief Minister became angry with the Principal Secretary for not keeping him informed about the situation and immediately ordered to provide the injured with best treatment facilities, according to the affidavit. The affidavit further states that Shahbaz Sharif formed a high profile Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to inquire the event and also requested the judiciary to investigate the matter at the earliest.
Rana Sanaullah (Law Minister at that time) and Tauqeer Shah (Principal Secretary at that time) were asked to tender their resignations while CCPO Lahore, DIG Operations and SP Model Town were immediately removed from their posts, the affidavit concludes.
After submission of CM Punjab’s affidavit and ISI’s report, tribunal has completed recording the statements. Now the tribunal will determine those responsible for the unfortunate incident and suggest action against them. The final report will be sent to the Department of Interior, Punjab.
Tribunal had started inquiring the matter on 18th of July and has completed the process in 38 days.
