PAT will not participate in Raiwind march: Tahirul Qadri

PAT chief says government looking to launch operation on lines of Model Town violence

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chairman Tahirul Qadri announced on Saturday that the party would not participate in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's (PTI's) Raiwind march.

Qadri said the party would not participate in the march as it could lead to a ruler's residence being besieged.  “I am unanimously announcing that we will not launch any sort of attack even on our worst enemies nor will the party even block the streets leading to their residence,” Qadri remarked while speaking to journalists.



“My workers unanimously called for launching a protest but I, as leader announce that I will not violate or desecrate the boundaries of any person’s house,” he added. Qadri went on to add that the houses of party workers had been attacked but the PAT would not avenge that. Attacking people's houses was a habit of the nation's rulers, he added.

Qadri also accused them of planning to launch an attack on the lines of the Model Town violence to cover up what transpired on June 17, 2014. At least 14 PAT workers were killed on the fateful day. “I urge the Rangers, the ISI and the MI to take notice of how the government is planning to launch an attack on us over the course of which we will be framed for illegal possession of arms," he said.

“This way, the government will attack our secretariat and offices with the aim to cover up abuses committed during the Model Town violence and evade paying blood money,” Qadri alleged. The PAT chief also claimed that the government wanted to ban the PAT and evade being held accountable for the Model Town violence.



Earlier on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan announced that the party would launch a protest in Raiwind at all costs and shutdown Lahore if stopped from exercising what was its democratic right. However, Imran said that the PTI did not intend to besiege Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence and had no history of doing so.

The Opposition has been pressing the government for a thorough and transparent probe into the Panama Papers controversy. The parties allege that the government has been striving to evade this in an effort to conceal ill-gotten wealth.

Leaked documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca showed several world leaders including the premier’s three children – sons Hassan and Hussain and daughter Maryam – owning at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.