The Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), hitherto a non-political religious party, has announced that it will participate in the upcoming elections.
Addressing some 15,000 supporters here at the ‘Azad Pakistan Conference’ at Minar-i-Pakistan, PST head Sarwat Ijaz Qadri requested the participants to vote for the Tehreek, or at least cooperate with the party. He labelled the Difa-i-Pakistan Council formed by Ahle Hadith and Deobandi parties the “Fisad-i-Pakistan Council”, and accused it of causing terrorism in the country.
Sahibzada Fazle Karim, the head of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), was not invited to the conference, though the Sunni Tehreek is an important component of the SIC. A PST official said that Karim had not been invited. “He used to take all the credit for SIC gatherings, even though most of the supporters at these gatherings were PST workers,” he said.
Democracy
Criticising all political parties, Qadri said he wanted an end to “the politics which has resulted in sheltering of suicide bombers”. He said all political parties had looted the country over parliamentary seats. “They are ruining democracy and the people of Pakistan in the name of their so-called democracy,” he said.
Qadri condemned the Taliban as ‘Zaliman’ (oppressors) who were only targeting Barelvis. At his urging, the PST supporters took an oath not to compromise on the defence of Pakistan. “We will lay down our lives if needed for the national interest. We do not want to rule, but we want to save the country,” he said.
He said the terrorists who had conducted suicide attacks on Data Darbar, killed Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi of Jamia Naeemia, killed Barelvi leaders at Nishtar Park and burnt lawyers in Karachi had not been arrested. He said the PST would not be afraid of arresting the people behind such atrocities. “The student wing of the PST will follow them at educational institutions,” he said.
He criticised the Supreme Court for not taking up the PST’s petition for an investigation of the Nishtar Park bombing. He asked the chief justice of Pakistan to ensure the release of former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, who is behind bars for alleged fraud in the Haj fund.
Qadri said the PST would establish Shariat courts in the country which would give immunity to no one.
Announcing that he was declaring his assets, he said he owned 10 or 11 shalwar kamiz’s and his wife had assets of Rs150,000. He said his children studied in a madrassa and he drew no salary from his job as head of the PST. He said he used to work for Suzuki but had quit after he became head of the PST. He said all politicians should declare their assets as he had done.
Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali, Shahid Ghauri, Shadab Raza Qadri, Razai Mustafa and Dr Raghib Naeemi also gave speeches at the conference.
Naeemi said that they needed to rid the country of the Taliban, terrorists, corrupt politicians, anti-Islamic elements and power cuts.
Malik Bashir Awan, father of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed assassin of Salmaan Taseer, read out a prayer for the participants, but did not make a speech. The other speakers assured him of their full support for his son.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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Sunni Tehreek can prove better political party than others.
The same people called Quaid-i-Azam "Kafir-i-Azam" and Pakistan "Pleed-istan"..Now they want to go by the name of Azad Pakistan..Ohh the irony!!
Imran has already started a new trend the hot topic is law and order but he is only one who as the team and the will to bring about real change he faces a monumental task but i believe now the tsunami has neen unleashed there is only a oneway trend my bullish sentiment is as a deflated index that as seen the worst were the pattern point oneway upwards its all buy buy or should i say bye bye ppp pmln and the rest your positions will be closed the pti stk is to strong for ppp and pmnl as they have a poor outlook bad fundamentals outright sell as we traders say lol good luck pakistan imran is a godsend to your nation appreciate him
pakistan sunnitehreek is best plitical party in pakistan
Its time to get rid of these corrupt politicians. We are with you PST.
For my surprise there was a massive crowd at Minar e Pakistan ground last evening at there Jalsa, most of them were youth. This means that PST has equal popularity in Punjab as in Urban Sindh. It would be interesting to see their strategy for coming elections. However welcome PST in politics. They sound sincere towards progress of Pakistan.
How come a party, whose name is based on division of sects, can equally treat all the citizens of Pakistan? They will keep grudges against other sects. We need unity not division. VOTE FOR PTI. Insha Allah I shall vote for PTI along with family and friends.
They are cheaters and using Islam for their own benefit. I have seen their armed gang men taking 'bhatta' and shutting shops and petrol pumps by terrorizing people during their past strikes. Their offices are raided so many times by Rangers and they have caught them many times red handed with guns and ammunition. Newspapers usually don't publish "party names" so Gangs of Karachi are never exposed on Papers, though each native of Karachi know their respective culprits. Don't get confused with their Mullah's guise.... its to deceive people..... nothing to do with Islam ! Sunni Tehreek... just like MQM, ANP, PPP, you also can't contribute into Karachi's peace and you are also the doer of terrorism and part of this Karachi war. Don't vote for them !!!!!
every citizen is free to join politics however the name sunni tehreek sounds secrtarian and discriminatory for a political party.
‘Azad Pakistan Conference’ – You are right Qadri Sahib, now Pakistan need more shouts of ‘Azad Pakistan’ than ‘Azad Kashmir’ …… :-)
This is a good step to go in Politics to save Pakistan from bad politicians.
Loo jee, Mullah Raj.