En route Faisalabad: Justice elusive for PAT, PTI, says Chaudhary Sarwar

Former governor says PTI will join PAT protest

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Sarwar said on Friday that the party would join the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT’s) protest demonstration marking the second anniversary of the June 17 Model Town violence.

Sarwar made the remarks while speaking to journalists at Thokar Niaz Beg while proceeding to Faisalabad in connection with the party’s show of strength there. Party workers including youth coordinator Waseem Chaudhry, ISF president Waqas Butt, ITF president Rashid Rehman were also part of the Sarwar-led caravan on its way to Faisalabad. Sarwar said the party had left no stone unturned to ensure women’s security at the Dhobi Ghat jalsa. He said the party was exercising great caution. The party had received much flak of late in the wake of women being harassed at its Lahore and Islamabad jalsas.

Sarwar, the former governor, called on the Opposition to unite against corruption. He said the PTI was committed to eradicating financial malpractice from the nation. Stressing the need for across-the-board accountability, Sarwar said, the PTI had declared war on corruption. “The corrupt should be in prison in place of assemblies,” he said.

Responding to a query regarding the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Raja Riaz having joined the PTI, Sarwar said all party decisions were reached after consultations. He also dismissed reports of intraparty fissures on this account. “The PTI is united under Imran Khan,” Sarwar said. He said minor differences of opinion within parties were prevalent across the political spectrum. This was representative of democracy, Sarwar said.

The former governor said the PTI would join the PAT’s June 17 protest. “Two years have passed since the PAT has been waiting for justice to be meted out,” he said. Sarwar demanded justice for those killed in the violence. He also called for those behind the killings of PTI workers during the local body elections to be brought to justice. He said justice had not been served despite protests.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2016.