Model Town incident: Judicial commission seeks report from chief secretary

Judicial commission probing Model Town incident, here on Monday sought report from Punjab Chief Secretary by June 26 regarding circumstances that led to posting of new IGP, change of Lahore DCO, and other reshuffling in the bureaucracy.
The tribunal comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najfai also received two written applications on behalf of Punjab's former Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and by Dr Tauqir Shah, former Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister for their exemption from appearance for one day (Monday) on account of prevailing law and order situation.
The tribunal accepted applications and granted exemption to them for one day only. Punjab Home department submitted a report before stating that joint investigation team has been constituted and some of its members have been mentioned. The Secretary Social Welfare has stated that there is no specific head for disbursement of the compensation to the affectees of the incident, like one under probe, but the DCO, Lahore has placed on record the photocopies of the cheques issued in the names of legal heirs of nine deceased persons each for Rs three million.
IGP also submitted daily progress report which was made a part of record. He has made a written request for the exemption of his appearance on account of law and order situation prevailing in the city of Lahore. The tribunal granted exemption for one day only. A suggestion/information was given to the tribunal that one deceased Muhammad Iqbal's son (name not known) is missing and has not been traced out so far. The tribunal directed SP (Investigation), Model Town, Muhammad Nadeem to trace him out and give a report before this tribunal on the next date of hearing.
Many valuable suggestions were made during the proceedings including the specific time for the recording of evidence of the eye witnesses. However, the tribunal observed that an advertisement has already been circulated in the news, both in electronic and print media in which the eye witnesses or anybody who has any information about the incident is welcomed before this tribunal.