LAHORE - The inquiry tribunal comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najfi on Tuesday dismissed an application seeking placement of Punjab chief minister, inspector general of police, former law minister, former principal secretary, former CCPO, former DIG and other police officials’ names on the exit control list (ECL) for killing of the innocent people in Model Town.
The judge held that it was not an appropriate forum to decide the inclusion of names of certain people in the ECL as there were other proper fora available for the purposes. The judge placed this order on an application filed by advocate Aftab Bajwa.
The lawyer-petitioner said that the names of CM, IG, former minister, Punjab home secretary, former principal secretary to CM, DIG operations, concerned SHOs, AC Model Town, TMO Model Town and many other police officers should be put on ECL taking plea that they were directly responsible for killings of 14 innocent citizens in Model Town and might flee from the country which could adversely affect the investigation.
He also filed two other applications for registration of FIR against Punjab CM and other high-ups involved in the tragedy and submission of relevant record.
Upon this, the judge directed additional inspector general Altaf Hussain to consider the applications seriously. Justice Najfi asked the police officer representing the IGP about investigation report of the inquiry team.
The officer told the tribunal that report could not be completed as the investigation team had started its working on Monday. Justice Najfi, admonishing the official, ordered him to submit the interim report on July 03.
Later, advocate Bajwa told the tribunal that Punjab chief minister was the authority to make their postings and transfers due to which the officers were frightened while the salaries of the police officers were being issued from his residence in Raiwind. He said that police officers could not do anything against the will of Punjab CM. He termed the CM responsible for the incident and former law minister Rana Sanaullah a killer of innocent people.
Bajwa said the witnesses and other people wanted to appear before the tribunal were being threatened. Upon which, the judge asked him to produce them who were threatened along with the names of those who threatened them.
The judge remarked, “Tribunal will ensure protection of the injured who want to record their statements.”
Earlier, advocate Bajwa challenged constitution of the tribunal before the Lahore High Court terming its status as illegal and unconstitutional. The tribunal adjourned proceedings till Wednesday (today).