Pak cleric seeks FIR against Prime Minister Sharif, others

, Jun 20: Canada-based Pakistani

Tahirul Qadri has sought registration of an FIR against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother, nephew and some of the top cabinet ministers for the killing of 10 people during a police raid on his residence and offices here.

"We want registration of FIR against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and all those responsible for the killing of the innocent people," Qadri demanded. In an application filed with the Lahore police, Qadri's Minhajul Quran Trust has named Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, State minister Abid Sher Ali, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and top police officers who took part in the "barricades removal operation" outside the cleric's residence.

The Faisal Town police station here has received the application but officials said they cannot register the case without the approval of their seniors. The PML-Q and Pakistan Sunni Council leaders last evening accompanied the supporters of the Qadri to the police station to lodge the FIR.

"It is the right of Qadri and his supporters to register a murder case against the prime minister, chief minister and all those who had taken part in the brutal attack on innocent people. This terrorism was not possible without the approval of the chief minister," PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha said. He said the opposition would move the superior court if the police did not register the FIR.

On last Tuesday, eight persons, including a 15-year-old girl and a woman, were killed and 100 others injured in violent clashes between Qadri's supporters and police in Model Town here on the issue of removing barricades from his residence and offices. Two more succumbed to injuries later in hospital. There has been a countrywide condemnation of the incident from all quarters. The opposition described it a "fascist act" of the PML-N government.

The police on the other hand registered cases under murder and terrorism charges against 3,000 supporters of Qadri, who will return home on June 23. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has formed one- member judicial commission comprising Lahore High Court Justice Ali Baqar Najafi who has started recording the statements of those who participated in the operation. Qadri has rejected the commission, saying an independent investigation of the incident will take place once the Sharifs are out of power.

PTI