Court decides to hear Model Town tragedy case twice a week

LAHORE: An Anti-Terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore rejected a Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s plea to adjourn Model Town tragedy case until report of a new JIT, ruling that from now on, the case will be heard twice a week on the directives of the Supreme Court.

ATC Judge Arshad Javed Chadhar heard the case and adjourned the hearing till February 6.

Earlier Burhan Moazzam, the defence counsel, told the court that over the past nine years, despite 123 hearing of the case, Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s counsel were using delaying tactics. The counsel appealed that the case should be heard on regular basis.

On the occasion, Advocate Ch Naeemuddin, the counsel of Pakistan Awami Tehreek requested the court that till the presentation of new JIT report on the incident, no further hearing should be fixed. The complainant counsel requested that trial of Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanullah should be initiated at the same time.

All the accused including police officers appeared in the court for the attendance. There are 124 accused in Model Town Tragedy case in which 14 activists were killed and more than 100 workers of PAT were injured in a clash with police.

Four accused, including former Police SSP Umer Virk, ex DSP Khalid Abu Bakar, Mian Shafqat and former SI Bashir Niazi had filed appeals for their acquittal in the case. While five accused including former IG Police Mushtaq Sukhera and DIG Operations Rana Abdul JAbbar have already been acquitted in the case.