New Mandela: Qadri promises revolution, demands social justice

‘Govt should ensure employment or pay Rs10,000 unemployment allowance ’.

LAHORE:

The government must provide people their constitutional rights or they would not only seize their rights but also political power, Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri said on Sunday.

He was addressing a large rally on The Mall through a video link from Canada. The rally was held ostensibly to protest against price hike, corruption, unrest, unemployment and the absence of rule of law. The participants, including a large number of women, walked from Nasser Bagh to Charing Cross. LEDs were installed at several locations to facilitate the participants.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers gathered on The Mall to demand implementation of Article 38 of the Constitution [promotion of social and economic well-being of the people].The participants, including women holding rolling pins and kitchen items, marched from Nasser Bagh to Charing Cross. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS

Qadri demanded that the government provide people their rights in accordance with Article 38 of the Constitution (Promotion of social and economic well-being of the people). “What has the government done with regard to this Article?” he said.

Qadri said the government must ensure equitable distribution of agricultural land and no family should be allowed to own more than 50 acres of land. He said the government should ensure employment for all jobseekers or pay them Rs10,000 unemployment allowance every month till they get jobs.

The PAT leader said the government should provide each homeless family a five-marla piece of land as well as a soft loan to help them build houses. He said the wealthy people should pay more taxes than the poor and people in the lowest income bracket should be exempt from direct as well as indirect taxes. Food should also be subsidised, he said.

“All this will happen if the revolution happens,” said Qadri. He said that he would ensure the country followed the Quaid-i-Azam’s vision for a moderate Pakistan. He said he would call for the revolution, which will be in line with Nelson Mandela’s revolution, upon his arrival in the country, “everyone should be on the street...that would be the revolution”.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers gathered on The Mall to demand implementation of Article 38 of the Constitution [promotion of social and economic well-being of the people].The participants, including women holding rolling pins and kitchen items, marched from Nasser Bagh to Charing Cross. PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/EXPRESS

He said the rally (today) was a phase in the revolution. The final phase would be completed upon his arrival in Pakistan.

Qadri criticised the government for its failure to control terrorism and sectarianism in the country. He said the government had been talking of a dialogue with the Taliban but nothing had happened so far.

He said terrorists had supporters within the government.

“We want neither extremism nor ‘mullahism’ but an egalitarian society,” Qadri said. “Neither military dictatorship nor democratic dictatorship are acceptable forms of government.”

The PAT leader also criticised the delay in appointing ambassadors and a foreign minister.

He also condemned the government’s policies and what he called “Nawaz Sharif’s money whitening schemes”.



He said the Quaid had founded the nation on the basis of citizens’ equality, but the state was being exploited by 100 to 200 families. He said the current setup was a “political dictatorship” and not democracy.

“How many families in Pakistan have Rs50 billion assets?” he said, referring to the prime minister’s amnesty scheme that promises zero scrutiny for anyone investing in the country’s industry.

Qadri said once in power he would make 35 provinces and ensure devolution of power to the provinces.  He said there was no need for local government elections as development funds would only be spent at the advice of members of the National Assembly.

Dr Hussain Mohiudin Qadri, son of Dr Tahirul Qadri, also addressed the rally and condemned the government’s failure to control price hike, corruption, unemployment and terrorism.

He said the PAT would continue its struggle till a “true revolution” took place.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2013.