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Tribunal rejects plea to place chief minister, ex-law minister on ECL
APPLAHORE – A one-man tribunal holding an inquiry into the Model Town incident on Tuesday declined a request to put names of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former Punjab minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah and others on the exit control list.
The tribunal held that it did not feel appropriate to put the names of the persons on the ECL as a proper forum was available for the purpose. Earlier, Advocate Aftab Ahmad on behalf of two residents of the Model Town pleaded the court to issue directions for registration of a new FIR against former minister Rana Sanaullah and others for murder of 13 innocent people in incident.
He also expressed apprehensions that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah and others involved in the incident might flee the country. He pleaded the tribunal to put their names on ECL besides confining them. He also pleaded the court to seek a detailed report of persons who were injured, treated, discharged and went missing.
Advocate Shabnam Nagi through an application submitted that directions be issued for registration of a case against the chief minister and former law minister for loss of lives in the tragedy.
She also suggested the tribunal to ascertain which officer had ordered firing and whether he had authority for it. However, the tribunal rejected the request to put names of the Punjab chief minister and others on ECL observing that a proper forum was available for the purpose. The tribunal noted that it had been pointed out that certain witnesses were being threatened.
It ordered to present names of such witnesses and those who were threatening them. An additional inspector general of police Punjab also appeared before the tribunal and submitted a daily progress report which was made part of the record. To a tribunal inquiry, the AIG submitted that the joint investigation team had started work from June 30.
The tribunal ordered him to submit an interim report by the joint investigation team on July 3. The tribunal also recorded the statement of two medical officers and adjourned the matter until July 2.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk