LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said Thursday that he was willing to surrender to police if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were arrested in relation to the Model Town tragedy.

Speaking to media representatives in Lahore, the PAT chief said the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to probe the Model Town tragedy was merely formed to give a clean chit to plotters and killers, adding that it was against the principles of justice and law.

Earlier on Tuesday, the government finalised the formation of a five-member JIT to probe the killings of PAT workers on June 17

The investigation team is led by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema and also comprises Col Ahmed from Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), Muhammad Ali from Intelligence Bureau (IB), SSP Shahzad Akbar and DSP Khalid Abu Bakar.

The PAT rejected the probe, saying that Abdul Razzaq Cheema has personal relations with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and would not be impartial.

Qadri said the party had demanded that the JIT be formed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that none of the names proposed by the PAT had been included in the team.

He said the party had also laid a condition that they would not recognise personnel from the Punjab police in the team and questioned as to how killers could investigate their own conduct.

Take a look: Govt finalises JIT to probe Model Town killings

Qadri arrives in Lahore

Qadri arrived in Lahore on Thursday morning.

The firebrand cleric left the airport amid strict security measures and set off to visit Data Darbar en route to his party secretariat in Model Town.

Three deputy superintendent of police (DSPs), including SP Cantt, were posted along with 200 other policemen for Qadri's security.

Read: PAT plans procession to receive Qadri on his return

A large number of supporters, including scores of women, had gathered outside the Allama Iqbal International Airport and were part of the PAT chief's convoy on his journey.

Qadri asked his supporters to remain peaceful and speaking to media representatives from inside the aircraft said: "The righteous shall win."

Regarding the JIT formed to probe the June 17 Model Town killings, he said any probe team comprising of police officers from Punjab would not be acceptable.

The June 17 incident saw the deaths of at least 11 people during a clash between police and PAT supporters.

The PAT had later staged anti-government sit-ins along with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) outside the Parliament in the federal capital city.

However, PAT had called off protests on Oct 21 following which Qadri had left for Canada apparently to reorganise his party and raise funds.

Recently, however, Qadri and PTI Chairman Imran were declared proclaimed offenders by an anti-terrorism court in a case relating to an attack on a senior police officer and storming of the PTV building on Sept 1.