2014 Lahore clash

2014 Lahore clash
Date17 June 2014
Location
Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan

31°29′0″N 74°18′32.5″E / 31.48333°N 74.309028°E / 31.48333; 74.309028
Caused byPolice-led anti-encroachment operation
MethodsProtest against operation
Resulted inDeaths of protesters , 5 policemen arrested
Parties
Lead figures
Number
300+
700+
Casualties
Death(s)14
Injuries100+
Arrested53+

The Model Town operation,[1][2] more commonly known as the Model Town tragedy or the Lahore massacre (Urdu: سانحہ ماڈل ٹاؤن),[3] or simply Lahore incident, was a violent clash that ensued between the Punjab Police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists on 17 June 2014 resulting in several protesters being killed by the police gunfire. Five police officers remain under arrest.[4] The standoff lasted for almost 11 hours when the police's anti-encroachment squad launched an operation to remove the barriers from the road leading to the offices of Minhaj-ul-Quran and the residence of PAT founder Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri in Model Town, Lahore, even though police officials were given a court order by PAT leaders, stating "due to terrorism issue place security barriers in front of Minhaj-ul-Quran and the residence of PAT founder Dr.Qadri."[5]

The incident was broadcast live on various local news channels[6] and there were conflicting accounts of how the standoff began.[7] Police claimed that they were attacked by people inside the PAT secretariat, a claim that is denied by party chief Qadri. In the live footage broadcast on television, the policemen were shown firing assault rifles and lobbing tear gas canisters at the protesting masses while the protesters threw stones at the police.[7]

Qadri strongly condemned the attack and called it the worst form of state terrorism. Qadri vowed to avenge the deaths of his political workers by bringing about a revolution that would hasten the end of the rule of prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif.[8][9]

Following the incident, Qadri′s importance grew in Pakistani politics where he had "otherwise been regarded by most observers as posing little threat to the government".[10] Where some analysts considered Qadri a "political non-entity" before the incident,[11] others expressed concern that the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) government reacted "disproportionately and aggressively" in this matter,[12] "shooting itself in the foot"[11] and feeling "'insecure' with the attention that Qadri [had] managed to attract".[12]

  1. ^ Tanveer, Rana (20 June 2014). "Lahore clashes: Will accept only JIT with ISI, IB, MI reps, says Qadri". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Pakistan: Eight die as Seikh amir saleem and others clash with Qadri supporters". BBC News. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  3. ^ Tanveer, Rana; Manan, Abdul (21 June 2014). "The axe falls: Heads finally roll over Model Town tragedy". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  4. ^ Gillani, Waqar (17 June 2014). "7 Killed as Pakistan Police Clash With Preacher's Followers". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  5. ^ International, Minhaj-ul-Quran. "Lahore High Court Order for Barriers". Minahj-ul-Quran International. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  6. ^ "PPP, MQM resolutions condemn Lahore killings". The News International. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  7. ^ a b Nauman, Qasim (17 June 2014). "Pakistan Police Clash With Supporters of Canada-Based Cleric". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  8. ^ "State Terrorism will not be tolerated: Qadri". The News International. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Qadri vows to take revenge by revolution". The Nation. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. ^ Boone, Jon (23 June 2014). "Pakistani cleric claims government 'hijack' after flight diverted from capital". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b Sattar, Babar (23 June 2014). "The reign of Gullu Butts". Dawn. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b Yasin, Aamir; Waseem, Amir; Asghar, Mohammad (23 June 2014). "Who's afraid of Tahirul Qadri?". Dawn. Retrieved 24 June 2014.