Model Town case: the hearing adjourned till September 7, 2024

A hearing of the Model Town tragedy case took place in the Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore. The court has summoned additional witnesses for the next hearing in Case No. 510/14 (Police FIR). The court adjourned the case until September 7, 2024.

Naeemuddin Chaudhry Advocate, the legal spokesperson for the Model Town case, stated that the victims of the Model Town tragedy have been seeking justice for 10 years. He emphasized that transparent investigation is essential for justice in any case. He affirmed that striving for justice is part of their faith, and they will never abandon the oppressed or forgive the oppressors.

The legal spokesperson further stated that to prevent such incidents in the future, it is necessary to establish a society based on justice and fairness where no one is wronged. He pointed out that the victims of the Model Town case have not been granted the right to an impartial investigation.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was in the final stages of its investigation when the Lahore High Court suspended the JIT notification on March 22, 2019. Despite five years passing and the hearing being completed, the Lahore High Court has yet to issue a verdict on the matter, he said.

Naeemuddin Chaudhry Advocate asserted that the restoration of the JIT is crucial for justice in the Model Town case. He explained that the JIT must compile all the material and send a report under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code to the court, so that this material can be requested during the prosecution proceedings. He said that based on this, a decision regarding punishment can be made.

He lamented that the victims of Model Town have been deprived of the right to an impartial investigation for 10 years, which amounts to a massacre of justice after the massacre of humanity. The victims of the Model Town tragedy have been demanding the right to an impartial investigation for 10 years.