Model Town JIT to submit report to govt on March 15: sources

LAHORE: The second joint investigation team (JIT) on the Model Town has finalized its report, quoting sources ARY News reported on Wednesday.

The JIT will submit its report to the Punjab government on March 15, the well placed sources said.

According to sources, the JIT recorded statements of 90 witnesses of Minhaj ul Quran, while 85 officials of the police department also appeared before the JIT and recorded their statements over the incident.

Seven PML-N leaders including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Asif,former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali and Abid Sher Ali were summoned by the probe team but failed to appear before it to record their statements on the Model Town incident.

Punjab Police officers Mushtaq Sukhera, Rashid Langarial and Dr. Tauqeer Shah recorded their statements to the probe.

The witnesses identified the officers and other policemen involved in firing on June 17, 2014, sources said.

The JIT headed by Additional IG Police Iqbal Hassan Shah will submit its report to the government, without the version of PML-N leaders who fail to appear before the investigation, sources added.

The Punjab Home Department on Jan 3 had formed a new JIT, on the court orders, for a fresh probe into the Model Town incident.

The Supreme Court had taken notice of plea on October 6 by Bisma Amjad, the daughter of Tanzila Amjad who was among those martyred in the Model Town firing incident, seeking the formation of a new investigation team to probe the carnage.

On June 17, 2014, at least 14 people were killed and 100 others injured when the police opened fire to disperse protesting Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers during an anti-encroachment operation outside the residence of PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri in Model Town Lahore.