PAT lawyers seek JIT report on Model Town killings

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) lawyers have asked the Punjab chief secretary to provide certified report of the joint investigation team (JIT) formed by Punjab government on Model Town killings, the government notification of JIT’s constitution, details of its members and other relevant material of the investigations, to compare it with the Justice Baqar Najfi Commission report for finding possible discrepancies and analogies.

In a letter addressed to the chief secretary by Azhar Siddiq, Advocate, on behalf of PAT legal team, the PAT lawyers invoked Article19-A of the Constitution, read with Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013/Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002, to seek certified report of the JIT constituted after FIR No.(s) 510/2014 lodged by government and that of Justice Baqar Najfi Commission report constituted after FIR 696/2014 lodged by PAT.

The letter, whose copies were also provided to the press, stated that PAT legal team and the aggrieved families of the victims intended to create comparison between the two documents to evolve a real situation comprising facts and true circumstances. The letter said that after receiving the Baqar Najfi Tribunal report, certain questions arose about the credibility and authenticity of JIT constituted for Model Town incident. The letter said PAT lawyers apprehended that the JIT was not authorised to look into the matter in depth and detail as it was witnessed that the Punjab government also did not give due authority to the Tribunal for investigation and interrogation about the subject matter. Since Justice Ali Baqir Najfi Tribunal was not fully authorised to investigate or interrogate the matter, the JIT was definitely toothless and without power, it said.

The letter sought answers to the queries as to how many JITs were formed in pursuance to both FIRs of Model Town killings; how many members were in the JITs, and who nominated them? The letter sought the notifications of the JITs along with the credentials of its members, and attested/certified copies of JITs’ reports, in line with the requirements of Article 19-A of the constitution, read with Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002.