An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday acquitted former Punjab inspector general police Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera, former DIG Operations Abdul Jabar, DPO Kasur Tariq Aziz and others in the Model Town massacre case.
Fourteen people, including men and women, were killed and more than 100 injured during the anti-encroachment operation outside the Model Town residence of Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on June 17, 2014.
The accused had submitted acquittal applications before the ATC contending that false allegations had been leveled against them, maintaining that they “had nothing to do with the case”.
On the other hand, Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s counsel opposed the version of the accused side’s counsels arguing there is substantial evidence which establishes their involvement. The PAT’s counsel had requested the court to dismiss their acquittal applications.
Earlier, the court had admitted Lahore Division’s former District Coordination Officer Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Usman in this case.
The court then observed that the plaintiff (PAT) could not establish an allegation against Usman after the accused had moved an acquittal application before the court.
ATC judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar in its judgment had stated that the role of the accused in the alleged conspiracy could not be established.
The court concluded that there is no probability of the conviction of the accused in this case and acquitted him.
