LHC seeks ATC record in Model Town case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought record of trial court on a petition seeking suspension of inspector general of Punjab Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera (IGP) facing trial in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on charges of killing party workers in the Model Town incident.

Petitioner's counsel Ishtiaq Chaudhry submitted that the ATC summoned the IGP and 123 other police personnel as accused in a private complaint moved by the party. He said the police officers summoned by the trial court might influence the process of law if they were not suspended from their respective offices. He requested to suspend the IGP and others and also direct the government to initiate department proceedings against them in the light of the ATC decision.

The ATC, on February 7, had partially allowed private complaint of the PAT and decided to try 124 officials, including former DCO Lahore Muhammad Usman and Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera in the Model Town killing case. The court had turned down the Pakistan Awami Tehreek request seeking trial of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah and eight other MNAs allegedly responsible for 14 killings. The court will resume hearing on March 29.