LAHORE - Any progress in the Model Town case lodged against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and 19 others, is possible in near future only in case two types of scenarios develop. First, through political patch up or out of court settlement, and second if political change takes place in the country.
The police probe into the Model Town clashes that left 14 persons shot dead and injuring 85 others on June 17 reached dead end again since the complainants are unwilling to appear before the police investigators. At the same time, the cops are unable to interrogate the high-profile suspects like the sitting PM, Punjab CM, four federal ministers, and senior police officers.
“There is no progress in the investigations so far. Nobody is interested to join the police investigations,” Inspector Ijaz Rashid told TheNation on Wednesday. Rashid, who is in-charge of investigation at Faisal Town police station, had been designated to probe into the Model Town tragedy and submit the challan of the case to the court concerned.
According to insiders, there are no sufficient evidences available to establish the claims of the complainant party. Virtually, the Punjab police incorporated the first FIR into the second one by attaching different sections of the law on the application filed by the Minhajul Quran management.
Legal experts also say the second FIR registered after more than two months of the happening has no importance legally. An investigator has to record the statement of the complainant with 24 hours after registration of a case under section 161 to endorse the FIR. The courts rely on the first information report not on the afterthoughts. To record a statement under section 161 is time-barred and the time has elapsed. Since one party (the PAT) boycotted the process of investigations, the chances are slim that the accused persons would be tried.
The Punjab Home Department is yet to constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT), comprising intelligence operatives and officers from the law enforcing agencies, to probe into the happening. Earlier, the provincial government totally ignored the “dissent note” of two key members of the JIT suggesting the panel to quash the earlier FIR lodged against the PAT leaders and activists.
Although a government official confirmed that the process to form the JIT was in progress yet it was reliably learnt that the intelligence agencies are unwilling to nominate officials on the government request because the case is already politicised by all stakeholders.
The administrator of Minhajul Quran has not appeared before the police investigators at Faisal Town since the PAT leadership has been holding sit-ins in the federal capital. Police officers issued several notices to the PAT leaders, urging them to join the investigations but no one appeared before the team on behalf of the PAT. More interestingly, a police officer of the rank of Inspector had been tasked to investigate the case registered against the leading politicians and senior officers.
Official sources revealed that the representatives of ISI and MI are yet to be designated to join the JIT since the nature of the criminal case had become political.
Not enough, the political turmoil in Islamabad has brought both the protesting parties and the government into a blind alley from where the rays of hope appear too slim. “There is a need for the government to take bold decisions and hold dialogue with PTI and PAT leaders. Some compensation has to be paid for earlier loss of precious time to address the grievances of the protesting groups.”
On the other hand, emotional speeches of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri coupled with digging graves and showing coffin-cloth pointed at continuity of deadlock and impending perils of violence. The government also wasted vital time to address the insensitivity to register FIR against concerned people responsible for killings in Model Town. Recent failure of dialogue, governments’ decision to use force against the protesters, and resultant killings in Islamabad, has further spoiled the situation.
Political pundits say prevailing chaos and disruptive state of affairs would not bear any fruit by accusing the armed forces. Some bold decisions will have to be undertaken and audacity needs to be demonstrated.
According to them, the military establishment should not be made a punching bag or subjected to public debate in the wake of prevailing political impasse. The ISPR press release clearly expressed Army’s pro-democratic stance, asking the government to resolve the crisis through political dialogue and avoid violence or use of force.
The Joint Investigation Team, earlier constituted by the provincial home department, investigated the first FIR (No 510/14 registered against the PAT leaders and activists on the application of police). In the absence of second JIT, the Faisal Town investigation police are probing into the second FIR (696/14 lodged against PM, CM, ministers, and others on the application of Minhajul Quran administration).