Restoration of JIT is crucial for justice in the Model Town incident: Legal Spokesperson

A hearing in the anti-terrorism Court of Lahore took place regarding the Model Town incident case. In the court, statements from three witnesses of police FIR number 510/14 were recorded. The court has adjourned the hearing until July 26.

The legal spokesperson for the Model Town incident case, Advocate Naeemuddin Chaudhry, stated that transparent investigation is necessary for justice in any case. He said it is unfortunate that the victims of the Model Town incident were not granted the right to an impartial investigation. He mentioned that the investigation by the Model Town JIT, which was in its final stages, was suspended by the Lahore High Court on March 22, 2019.

Naeemuddin Chaudhry Advocate said despite the passage of five years and the hearing being completed, the Lahore High Court has not given a decision on this matter yet. He emphasized that the restoration of the JIT is essential for justice in the Model Town incident.

“From January 14, 2019, to March 20, 2019, the JIT recorded statements from all the injured, eyewitnesses, and families of the martyrs of the Model Town incident,” he opined.

Advocate Naeemuddin further mentioned that for the first time, all oral and documentary evidence was presented before the JIT by the victims of the Model Town incident. The JIT also completed the investigation of all the accused in the Model Town incident. He said that JIT head A.D. Khawaja submitted a statement in the Lahore High Court, according to which the JIT recorded 281 statements and completed more than 80% of the investigation.

He added that within three months, this JIT completed the investigation of all the accused in the Model Town incident, including Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, Tauqir Shah, and IG Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera.

Advocate Chaudhry reiterated that the restoration of the JIT is crucial for justice in the Model Town incident. The JIT must compile all the material and submit a report under section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code to the court so that this material can be requested during the prosecution proceedings. Based on this, a decision on reward and punishment can be made.