ATC acquits commissioner Lahore in Model Town case

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) of Lahore on Tuesday vindicated one of the key suspects of Model Town tragedy, Commissioner Lahore Division Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman.

A junior advocate of Pakistan Muslim League-N Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Farhad Tirmizi fought the case on behalf of the suspect.

The court observed that the plaintiff Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) could not establish allegation against Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman, former district coordination officer (DCO).

The arguments and evidence presented before the court could not prove that the suspect conspired in a meeting called to remove barriers outside the Minhaj-ul-Quran, an NGO founded by PAT Chief Tahir ul Qadri, the court remarked. It said his presence as the DCO in the meeting or on the occasion did not amount to conspiracy.

Read more: SC Orders to conclude Model Town case within three months

The court in its verdict said that embroilment of the suspect in advising or conspiring for the tragedy could not be established.

The ATC said the complainant party over and over again changed its stance in the case and benefit for the changing of the stance would go to the suspect.

The verdict read that the ATC had rejected the request to summon former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.

On June 17, 2014, Punjab police had gone to remove the barriers placed outside Dr Tahirul Qadri’s residence and Minhaj-ul-Quran International Secretariat in Model Town, Lahore.

The workers of Minhaj-ul-Quran resisted the move which led to a deadly clash leaving 14 workers dead and dozens others wounded.

In February 2020, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the Lahore High Court (LHC) to conclude the Model Town carnage case within three months.