Back to dharna: No deal struck with government says Qadri

Alleges the govt offered blood money to the heirs of Model Town firing incident

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Friday dispelled the impression he had struck a deal with the government for ending the Red Zone sit-in and announced to continue the months’ long protest till the desired result is achieved.

After five days of interval of his routine speech from the Red Zone when he left for Punjab on October 12 in connection with his Faisalabad rally, he returned to Islamabad Friday evening. However, most of his supporters have already left for their native towns on the advice of Qadri and few supporters remain at the sit-in venue.



“I categorically dispel all the impressions and rumours about any deal with the government and we will continue our sit-in on the Constitution Avenue till a logical end…Neither have I started the sit-in on the dictation of anyone, nor will end it on any one’s bidding,” said Qadri.

The PAT leader congratulated his supporters for what he termed “a small revolution” for getting justice for the victims of the Model Town incident, adding that their struggle has awakened the entire nation for a revolution.

“The sacrifices of our martyrs and your untiring struggle has brought a revolution in the country as every citizen has the desire for a revolution,” stated Qadri. “Now the entire nation wants to change the status quo for building a new Pakistan,” he noted.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2014.