Qadri asks followers to prepare for another sit-in

Accuses Punjab govt of handing PAT non-attested copy of Justice Najafi's report on Model Town incident

Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday accused the federal and Punjab governments of being responsible for the 2014 killings of his party activists in Model Town, and called on his supporters to prepare for a protest movement.

Addressing a press conference at the PAT head offices a day after publication of Justice Baqar Najafi report into the tragedy, he said that he would launch a protest movement against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government if the culprits were not arrested.

Qadri said the Najafi report has revealed all the names and exposed the conspiracy behind the Model Town incident. “In light of the Justice Baqar Najafi report, all culprits should be arrested and [put] behind bar,” he said.

“We are thankful to Justice Baqar Najafi for investigating the Model Town incident thoroughly,” he said. If the main perpetrators are not arrested, a protest movement will be launched, he warned, asking PAT activists to wait for a call from him for the protest against the Punjab government.



Dr Qadri was due to leave for Saudi Arabia to perform Umra next week, but he said his visit to the holy places might be delayed due to his plan to start agitation to get justice for the families of the Model Town martyrs.

“Umra is an optional worship and can be delayed but avenging the murder of 14 PAT workers is an obligation and the time has come now to fulfil this duty.” He directed his followers to remain alert and asked PAT activists to get his container ready for the protest.

Reading from a copy of the Najafi report, he claimed that it clearly pinpointed Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as the main culprit behind violence in June 2014.

Qadri claimed that the report is sufficient to hold Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sana responsible for the tragedy. “The Punjab CM was fully aware of the tragedy while Rana Sana was the main initiator of the brutality, therefore, both should be arrested immediately.”



Dr Qadri disputed Shehbaz Sharif’s claim that he [the chief minister] learnt about the incident through television channels. The report says that Tauqeer Shah (then principal secretary to the chief minister) was instructed by Shehbaz Sharif to participate in talks, Qadri added.

He said that a legal team and the core committee of the party would convene on Thursday (today) to discuss the next move of the party. He said other opposition parties were with him and they would join him in the protest.

Dr Qadri hailed the Najafi report as an unbiased account on the incident. He felicitated Justice Najafi for compiling such a report. He said the Sharif brothers were killers of humanity and now they cannot evade justice.