Daily Times

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri is back in the country to lead anti-government protests and demand justice for victims of the police brutality in Model Town. At least 14 PAT workers died due to police firing in 2014 while protesting against the government. At a time when a wave of political uncertainty looms over the capital in the wake of Nawaz Sharif’s ouster and orders of criminal investigation against he and other PML-N leaders — an agitation against the government will certainly add to the ruling party’s troubles. Despite his lack of electoral strength, the PAT chief holds considerable street power in pockets of the Punjab province. PAT’s protest movement is also bad news for Shehbaz Sharif because the Chief Minister will need public confidence after his nomination as the deposed Prime Minister’s successor.

Let’s hope we don’t have to witness the repetition of what happened in 2014 when PAT and PTI held sit-ins in Islamabad demanding Prime Minister’s resignation. We urge the PAT chief to ensure that his followers remain peaceful and refrain from attacking government buildings like they did during their last sit-in. The government should also let the party mobilise and hold rallies as long as the protesters abide by the law. And more importantly, we hope that is no confrontation between PAT activists and the police like the last time.

We support the PAT’s demand for justice for Model Town victims and urge the authorities concerned to release the investigation report and those from civilian administration and the police responsible for the tragedy can be brought to book. It has been almost three years and families of those who died are waiting for justice.

At the same time, Tahirul Qadri should understand that contesting the case on legal front would be far more effective than protesting on the streets, wearing coffins. The PAT has not pursued the case effectively and it has turned into an instrument of politicking. The current threat of street confrontation will only make matters worse. Dr Qadri’s support base largely comprises his ardent followers who are devoted to their spiritual leader and would never question any of his moves. But for many in the country — it is unclear as to why the PAT chief left the country in the first place without getting justice for the Model Town victims.*

Published in Daily Times, August 10^th 2017.