LAHORE - An additional district and sessions judge has ordered police to register criminal case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, and some other big guns of federal and provincial governments.
Judge Raja Muhammad Ajmal Khan passed this order here on Saturday on the application filed by Minhajul Quran Secretariat under sections 22-A, 22-B seeking registration of criminal case against the top administrators and key members of ruling party. Punjab Police had killed 14 people and wounded around 90 others in Model Town in June.
Others against whom the registration of FIR has been ordered are: MNA Hamza Shahbaz; federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pervez Rasheed, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Kh Saad Rafiq and Abid Sher Ali; and some other officials including Punjab Inspector General of Police and former principal secretary to CM Dr Tauqeer Shah.
In his order, the judge observed that the respondent (SHO Faisal Town) could not discharge his legal obligation as he should have registered the FIR (first information report) on the application filed by Minhajul Quran. He further observed that in the previous FIR (No 510/14) registered by the police did not mention whether any person had died during the clash and this fact by itself established the point for registration of new FIR. The judge then directed police to register the FIR and then proceed in accordance with law.
Jawad Hamid, director administration at Minhajul Quran Secretariat, had filed the petition submitting that PM Nawaz, Punjab CM Shabaz, former law minister Rana Sanaullah, former secretary to CM Tauqeer Shah, Hamza Shahbaz, above mentioned federal ministers, Punjab IGP Mushtaq Sukhera, DIG (operations) Rana Abdul Jabbar, SP Model Town Tariq Aziz, SP Security Salman, SP Maroof Safdar Wahla, Khana SHO Inspector Ishtiaq, Nishtar Town SHO Majeed Usman and other officials were directly or indirectly involved in the massacre.
Mansoor Afridi advocate argued on behalf of the Minhajul Quran saying that police registered two FIRs about the incident. He contended that two FIRs of an incident cannot be lodged but the SHO did so, which showed malafide intention. He pointed out that Hussain Mohayyuddin, the son of Dr Tahirul Qadri, was nominated in first FIR and Gullu Butt was not even mentioned there.
In the second FIR, he said, Gullu Butt was included and Hussain Mohayyuddin was excluded. He said if an FIR could be registered on the complaint by police then why not by the aggrieved party. Their version was not heard and made part of the FIR of the government, he further said. He requested the court to direct police for registration of criminal case against the above said persons.
District Public Prosecutor Azhar Hussain, representing the government contended that FIR had already been registered and Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had been constituted. He told the judge that the petitioner should join the investigations. He argued that if the petitioner is not satisfied with the JIT, the registration of FIR on the application of the petitioner would be futile exercise.
After the court order, Minhaj counsel Mansoor Afridi advocate, told The Nation: “Everybody is equal before the law and everyone is liable to be held accountable for his acts. No one is above the law and one should learn from the history; some big guns were hanged and some are facing trial.” He said this order is the result of his efforts and arguments he put forth in the court with all his heart.
At least 14 people died and dozens other got serious injuries during clash between police and workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek outside Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town on June 17.
NO COURT ORDER RECEIVED SO FAR: POLICE
Faisal Town police on Saturday said they had received no certified copy of the decision made by an additional district and sessions court in Lahore, ordering registration of a criminal case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and others.
An additional district and sessions judge has ordered police to register a criminal case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah and some other big guns of the federal and provincial governments.
Judge Raja Muhammad Ajmal Khan passed the said order Saturday on the application filed by Minhajul Quran Secretariat under sections 22-A and 22-B, seeking registration of a criminal case against the top administrators and key members of ruling party.
The Punjab police had killed 14 people and wounded around 90 others in Model Town on June 17.
Others against whom the registration of FIR has been ordered are MNA Hamza Shahbaz; federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pervaiz Rashid, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Kh Saad Rafiq and Abid Sher Ali, Punjab Inspector General of Police and former principal secretary to CM Dr Tauqeer Shah.
A Faisal Town police head constable, when contacted, said, “We have received no such order so far”. When this scribe contacted a senior police officer, he said on the condition of not to be named, they had received no certified copy from the court. “If we receive any such order, we will forward the same to our legal branch to seek legal opinion. Then we will be in position to register an FIR in this regard.”
The police officer said, “Sunday is not a working day, so any development can be seen on Monday”.
CASE FILING AGAINST PM, CM NOT ORDERED BY COURT: PERVAIZ
Nokhaiz Sahi from Islamabad adds: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Saturday denied reports that a sessions court had ordered registration of cases against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
“The sessions court has not issued any order to police to register an FIR against the prime minister or the Punjab chief minister in Model Town tragedy case,” the minister said in a statement.
Senator Parvez Rashid also clarified that the court while disposing of Minhajul Quran’s application, asked the police to deal with the matter in accordance with law. This decision of the court does not mean that it has ordered for registration of any case against anyone, he added.
The government had ordered judicial inquiry into Model Town incident in which 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek [PAT] workers were killed in clashes with police. The CM had also removed former Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Dr Taquir Shah from their posts to ensure fair and transparent investigations of the incident. However, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had termed the removal of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as insufficient and claimed that the chief minister had ordered police to open fire at protesters.