In solidarity: Lahore chaos triggers protests across Punjab

Lawyers boycott courts, rallies, sit-ins, roadblocks in several cities.

DERA GHAZI KHAN/ BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN/ FAISALABAD:

Activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Tuesday took to the streets to protest against the killing of eight people during a crackdown on encroachments at the party’s central secretariat in Model Town, Lahore.

Leaders of several political parties also voiced their opposition to the police action at the PAT secretariat that resulted in injuries to at least 80 people.

In Faisalabad, PAT workers arranged protest rallies and staged sits-in at several city junctions.

At least 300 people protested at Katchery Bazaar Chowk, around 200 at Jhal Chowk and 100 at Narwala Chowk.

They later marched to District Council Chowk and staged a sit-in in front of the city government’s secretariat. They carried placards and banners and shouted slogans against the government and police.

Addressing the protesters, PAT district press secretary Sarfraz Qadri said the government could not keep party chief Tahirul Qadri from bringing about a revolution in the country.

“He has become a symbol of revolution… the government’s tactics to create hurdles in his way would be in vain.”

He praised the dead and the injured in Lahore for sacrificing their lives for Qadri’s cause. “We will render more sacrifices, if need be. We will make sure his struggle bears fruit,” he said. Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza slammed the government for the turmoil in Lahore.

Expressing solidarity with PAT, Raza said he supported Qadri’s struggle.

“I back him for his efforts to bring about an Islamic revolution,” he said in a statement.

Insaf Students’ Federation leader Farrukh Habib demanded that the Supreme Court take suo motu notice of the clashes.

“The rulers should be held accountable for killing the PAT workers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Faisalabad District Bar Association announced boycott of courts on Wednesday (today) to express solidarity with those killed and injured.

South Punjab

The shooting in Lahore triggered protests across southern Punjab as PAT workers and civil society members staged demonstrations in at least 70 places.

According to reports from south Punjab, more than 20,000 party activists participated in protests in Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara, Chichawatni, Layyah, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Khanewal, Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Burewala, Muzaffargarh, Alipur, Kot Adu, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, Taunsa, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan.

The demos were arranged on at least 128 national highway and motorway locations, creating a traffic chaos.

PAT Multan chief Muhammad Iqbal led a protest rally in the city.

“More than 30,000 of our workers have left for Lahore to rally against the provincial government,” he told The Express Tribune. Lawyers in various southern Punjab cities, including Multan, boycotted courts. Lahore High Court Bar Association Multan President Athar Bukhari demanded that police register an FIR against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for what he called their failure to protect PAT workers.

He said lawyers would not attend courts today to express solidarity with those killed and injured in Lahore.

In Bahawalpur, PAT office-bearers protested in front of the Bahawalpur Press Club.

PAT district president Dr Amir said the police’s shooting at the PAT secretariat was an attempt to spread anarchy in the country.

“This is a conspiracy to stop Tahirul Qadri from coming home. We will not let this happen.”

He said the party would continue its movement to bring about a peaceful revolution.

“Such cowardly acts of the government cannot diminish our morale,” he said.

Amir said a protest camp had been set up at Fareed Gate, Bahawalpur.

In Bhakkar, PAT activists, including women and children, held protest demonstrations at Khanser Chowk, MM Road and Chandi Chowk. They burnt tyres and blocked Bhakkar Road, suspending traffic from Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2014.