LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday said an impartial joint investigation team (JIT) was formed for the first time to probe the Model Town incident, which quizzed Nawaz Sharif, visited the crime scene, conducted forensic analysis of bullet holes and raised questions about the arms used in the incident.

Speaking to the media at Allama Iqbal airport after his return from abroad, he said none of the earlier two JITs had recorded statement of even a single injured person. “Our fight is for justice, which will continue till realisation of the goal,” he said.

To a question, he said he won’t comment on the judiciary; all judicial matters will be raised and discussed before the judiciary only. He also prayed for the health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and said he “should remain hale and hearty till the decision of the Model Town case.”

He said the previous JITs did not ask the Sharifs why a special plane was sent to Quetta to bring Mushtaq Sukhera to Lahore. What was the nature of emergency and what kind of job he was to be assigned? “For the first time the Sharifs were asked to answer these questions, hence, they are confused.” He said the new JIT has recorded statements of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sana, Dr. Tauqeer Shah and about 150 bureaucrats and officers [allegedly] involved in the Model Town case. Qadri said he learnt about the appointment of A. D. Khawaja as head of JIT and it is heartening to see that no member of JIT is from Punjab police. He said whatever be the findings of JIT, he is satisfied with its formation and its modus operandi.

Tahirul Qadri, who had been abroad for two months, was received by Hasan Mohiudin Qadri, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Noorullah Siddique, Fayyaz Warraich and other senior office-holders of the party.