Daily Times

LAHORE: After consulting leaders of the opposition parties, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced to launch “Tehreek-e-Qassas” to get justice for the martyrs of Model Town tragedy.

Addressing a press conference after PAT’s Federal Council meeting, Dr Tahirul Qadri said that protest and only protest was the solution to the ills of the rulers. He claimed that the Sharifs feared PAT workers and leaders, as they know that the PAT workers are fearless and cannot be purchased at any cost. He said in order to end this reign of corruption, terrorism and lawlessness, it was imperative to end the ‘Sharif’ era. He advised the Pakistan Musli League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership to stay at Jati Ummrah, so that it could become easy for them to seek refuge in India through Wagah Border, which is 10 minutes from their residence, in case of an emergency.

The PAT chief on the occasion honoured the army chief with the name of ‘Mard-e-Aheen’ for conducting a successful operation against terrorists and extremists and for bringing peace to the country. He said PAT respects the point of view of the army chief that he wants to break the nexus of corruption and terrorism. He said the time has come to take concrete measures to eliminate these social evils from the society. “The people of the country must now decide whether they want to side with these corrupt rulers or want peace, tranquility, justice and fair play in the country,” he added.

Qadri said the incumbent rulers have become a serious threat for the security of the country and need to be eliminated.

PAT’s Federal Council in its meeting voiced concern over the kidnapping of children in Lahore. It also demanded an end to unscheduled load shedding and inflation. The meeting protested the increase in loans being taken by the government from domestic and foreign agencies. The meeting also supported the demands of nurses, agriculturalists, clerks and teachers.

Earlier, PAT’s Federal Council, through a resolution, gave full authority to its chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri to start a “Tehreek-e-Qassas” to ensure that the martyrs of the Model Town incident were provided with justice.

The resolution further stated that the First Information Report (FIR) of the Model Town incident was registered only after intervention by the army chief, urging Gen Raheel Sharif to ensure that justice was served in this case and culprits were sent to jail.

It was further stated in the resolution that the PAT chief was authorised to decide the date and future line of action for the “Tehreek-e-Qassas” after consultation with opposition leaders in the July 31 Consultative Conference, which would be held at the PAT Secretariat.