Qadri won’t appear in cases till PM’s arrest

PAT to hold rally in Bhakkar on November 23, in Sargodha on December 5, in Sialkot on December 14

LAHORE:

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Thursday said he would only face any case registered against him if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, are arrested in connection with the deaths of the workers of his party in Model Town, Lahore.

“Everyone knows upon whose orders the police opened fire on innocent PAT workers in Model Town,” he told a news conference held at his Model Town residence upon his return from the US, Canada and Britain. The PAT chief, once again, rejected the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to probe the FIR his party has filed in connection with the Model Town deaths, saying that he will not allow the rulers to ‘murder justice’.



“After viewing 12 hours of live footage of the police action in Model Town, the judicial commission in its report declared the Punjab government responsible for mishandling the situation and causing the deaths of 14 PAT workers,” Qadri said. “When a judicial commission has given its findings, then why is there a need for a JIT or a review,” he questioned, adding that it was ‘pathetic’ that a retired judge had been appointed to review the report of a sitting judge.

Qadri said the Punjab government received the commission’s report 40 days ago but still hadn’t made it public. “The rulers are hiding behind a stay order they have obtained using their influence,” he said. “Under the guise of the review board, this entire report will be rewritten in favour of the Sharif brothers.”

“The rulers are seeking a clean chit for the JIT and review board,” he added.

At the same time, the PAT chief said that he was not hiding from anyone. “I dare anyone to come and arrest met,” he said.

Qadri said his sit-in had achieved its purpose of awakening the nation and he would now move his struggle into the next phase. As prelude to the general elections, PAT would take part in by-elections starting from the one in Bhakkar next month, he said.

He also announced the future schedule of PAT rallies and said a rally is being organised in Bhakkar on November 23, in Sargodha on December 5, in Sialkot on December 14.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2014.