Model Town tragedy: SP issued 'firing' orders, report reveals

LAHORE: The initial report of the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to investigate the Model Town tragedy revealed that Superintendent of Police (SP) Sulaiman had ordered elite force personnel to open fire on protesters, DawnNews reported. In a statement recorded to the JIT, Elite Force in-charge Abdul Rauf said Sulaiman had ordered Elite Force personnel to target protesters on their legs. After receiving the order from Sulaiman, Station House Officer (SHO) Sabzazar Sheikh Amir Saleem and other Elite Force personnel fired shots at demonstrators that resulted in several deaths. In light of the statement recorded by Abdul Rauf, further investigation against Saleem and other Elite Force personnel is underway. On Wednesday, the JIT took SHO Sabzazar and eight personnel of the Elite Police Force into ‘custody’ for questioning. At least eleven PAT workers were killed and over 100 people were injured in the June 17 clash between police and PAT workers in Lahore's Model Town.