The Lahore High Court on Saturday admitted a petition filed by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) seeking a contempt of court proceeding against the Punjab government for failing to make the Model Town's inquiry report public. The petition comes two days after a single-judge bench of the Lahore High Court directed the Punjab government to release the inquiry report of Justice Baqir Najfi in Model Town case.
The petition was submitted by Ishtiaq Chaudhry Advocate against Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Chief Secretary Zahid Saeed and Home Secretary Azam Saleem. It was stated in the plea that LHC, on September 21, had issued directives to make judicial inquiry report of Model Town massacre public, however, the authorities have failed to provide it despite court's order.
On the other hand, Punjab government has also filed an intra-court appeal in LHC, challenging the court's verdict. The lawyer also remarked that a full-member bench is hearing the case and single bench ordered to reveal the report, which is incorrect.
Two years ago on June 17, an 11-hour clash between Punjab police and PAT workers left at least 14 dead while around a hundred were wounded. The violent clash happened as police's anti-encroachment staff began to remove barriers from the roads leading to offices of Minhajul Quran and Dr Qadri's residence in Model Town. Local media covered the incident showing police hurled tear gas canisters and resorted to firing on the activists while the security officers had stated they were attacked from inside the Minhajul Quran office.
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