Model Town tragedy worst example of state terrorism: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT leader Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that one month has passed since heart-wrenching Model Town tragedy occurred. He said that the display of worst state terrorism committed on June 17 under the direction of the Chief Minister of Punjab did not find its parallel in 66-year old history of Pakistan. He said that a story of state terrorism and the government’s barbarism and brutality was authored on that day at which the heads of entire humanity had been hung in perpetual shame. He said that innocent and unarmed workers and civilians were shot at mercilessly for 14 hours. He said that one month had elapsed since the incident and the bereaved families had been going from pillar to post but their FIR was not being registered. He said that the beasts wearing police uniforms who staged this mayhem and bloodshed on the orders of the Chief Minister had become complainants themselves, adding that the killers were investigating the case and presenting evidence in the Judicial Commission and they had described the victims as guilty. The Chief Minister who ordered this police action and the SSP who worked out its planning should immediately resign from their positions so that the ends of justice could be met.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while addressing an important meeting of PAT’s Central Council in central secretariat in Model Town on Thursday. The central, provincial and district leaders of PAT were also present on the occasion.

He said that the Chief Minister, IG Police, Home Secretary, and other officials were still holding their positions, asking how justice could be done in the presence of these killers. He said that medical record was being tampered. He said that none of police officers could give a statement against the Chief Minister as long as he was in power, further stating the junior officers could not speak against IG when he was holding his position. He said that it was foolish to expect people dare to speak out the truth in the presence of chain of command and chain of operation.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the judicial commission set up by the Chief Minister was given the power to fix the responsibility on those who planned this incident and executed the plan through a letter to the judge on June 20. He said that it was most ironic that seven days later on June 27, the home secretary Punjab withdrew from the commission the power to fix responsibility. He asked the judge of the tribunal to tell with his conscience as to why the victims’ FIR was not lodged and none of the accused was included in the investigation despite passage of one month. He asked that inquiry was underway on the FIR lodged by the killer police, adding that it was impossible to get justice in this way. He said that dozens of people died on June 17, children became orphan, the youth became injured and entire families were destroyed. He said that dozens of injured bodies were lying in the hospital and the affected were not being given legal-medical certificates. He said that it was height of state terrorism and barbarism which had been described as democracy. He said that when a judge did not have the authority to order registration of the victims’ FIR, how could he dispense justice?

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that unless the Chief Minister resigned and all involved officers were suspended, the bereaved families could not expect delivery of justice. Addressing Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, he said that the blood of martyrs would bear fruit. He said that they would have to pay Qisas for every drop of blood of martyrs and their blood would become the basis of the rulers’ ouster.