PAT demonstration: ‘Was Altaf’s speech written in Islamabad?’

"Citizens of the country are sick of being looted by corrupt, inept men," PAT general secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Scores of Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers took out a rally and staged a protest demonstration on Thursday.

Participants of the rally walked from Faisal Mosque to Traffic Chowk via Dr Irshad Noohi Park, Kalma Chowk, Saddar Bazaar, Rohi Bazaar and Hospital Chowk. They chanted slogans against the chief minister and the provincial government and called for justice for the victims of Model Town violence.

Dozens of caravans of PAT supporters from Rajanpur, Kot Mithan and Taunsa Sharif joined the demonstration at Traffic Chowk. They put up banners and posters around the site and were later joined by PAT general secretary Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and party leaders including Khawaja Ghulam Fareed, Khawaja Amir Fareed, Sardar Shakir Mazari and Sardar Saifullah Saddozai. Former chief minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa was also present. Addressing the demonstration, Gandapur said the PAT would continue to campaign for justice and accountability.

“Those responsible for killings in Model Town were never taken to task for their crimes,” he said. “The government covered up the entire affair.”

“Citizens of the country are sick of being looted by corrupt, inept men,” he said. “We must strengthen the nation by removing self-serving leaders from power.”

Khosa also spoke on the occasion.

“The entire world knows about Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s corruption. He brings a bad name to the country and yet he is not embarrassed,” Khosa said.

“At least 14 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured in Model Town two years ago,” he said. “This unaddressed issue will haunt leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.”

‘Karachi conspiracy’

“It seemed that Altaf’s speech was written in Islamabad and sent to London, from where it was read out and the anti-state activities were witnessed in Karachi,” PAT chairman Tahirul Qadri said. He was addressing the rally via telephone.

Qadri said the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister were responsible for the Model Town killings. He said he would not rest until Qisas (retribution) was not executed.He said those who were involved in Model Town killings had been sent abroad and the rest of them were ready to either go abroad or disappear.

He said there was no difference between those responsible for violence in Karachi and those who carried out suicide blast in Quetta.

“This is being done to pressure Pakistan Army. Such stunts divert attention from important issues. The PML-N must not be allowed a way around Panama Leaks and the Model Town killings,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2016.