RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE: “A new kind of terrorism is being imported into the country by [Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief] Tahirul Qadri,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed told media in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
He claimed that Qadri, who lives in Canada and arrived in Pakistan on Monday, had ordered his supporters to “finish off” the people who combat terrorism and had instructed them to “drown them in a river of blood”.
Referring to the clashes in the twin cities that ensued right before the PAT chief's arrival in Pakistan, Rasheed said “video footage had showed Qadri’s thugs attacking policemen with sticks,” adding that PAT supporters had intentionally hurt men who “protect Pakistani citizens and stop terrorists”.
“Now everyone knows that these people who call police terrorists were spreading terror themselves,” Rasheed remarked, questioning if this is the kind of “revolution” they want to bring to Pakistan.
During Monday’s clashes, at least 120 people including 45 policemen were injured in the twin cities. The clashes had broken out between police and PAT workers early on June 23 after the supporters asked law enforcers to remove barriers blocking Airport Road near Koral Chowk and the police officials refused.
Rasheed claimed that over 100 policemen were injured in Monday’s clashes. In an impassioned speech, he said that the policemen’s arms had been broken and their legs paralysed, adding that they had suffered internal injuries as well.
The information minister condemned the incident and said that it was highly regrettable.
“I met with the injured and spoke to them,” he said, adding that he wanted to assure the wounded policemen that the government, the citizens, parliamentarians and the civil society of Pakistan were standing by them.
“You are not alone,” he said, addressing the wounded.
Anarchy, not revolution
Earlier today, Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood also commented on the clashes. Speaking to media in Lahore, he said that the behaviour of PAT supporters depicted anarchy, not 'a revolution'.
Express News screengrab of Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood
Mashood stated that the government as well as the citizens of the country will not tolerate such behaviour.
Standoff
Commenting on the standoff between the government and Qadri yesterday, the Punjab law minister said that situation became embarrassing for the entire country after the PAT chief refused to disembark the plane in Lahore.
"After Emirates approached the government with regards to the lockdown, the issue became a matter of national reputation," he explained.
The five-hour standoff had ended after Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad saved the situation by convincing the PAT chief to negotiate with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar. After boarding Dr Qadri's plane, Sarwar had assured the PAT chief that all his legitimate demands will be met.
The Sindh governor had also told Dr Qadri that Emirates threatened to lodge a plane hijacking complaint which would tarnish Pakistan’s image internationally.
Plane diversion
Commenting on the plane's diversion to Lahore, Mashood said that it was not feasible to land in Islamabad.
Authorities in Islamabad had decided to divert the plane to Lahore because of the volatile ground situation. According to government sources, the option to divert the plane to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airportwas not included in the initial plan.
COMMENTS (10)
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The state Terrorism a la PML-N is pure barbarism. It is even worse in many ways than Nazi's. By the way, Goebbel was more plausible in propagating lies of Nazis than Pervez Rashid as propaganda minister of PML-N regime.
In at least one point, Dr. Qadri is right: only thorough reform in election system will bring some useful change in Pakistan. Dr. Qadri was right before the election, he has been proved right.
Real bone of contention is Musharraf. Establishment is using Imran and Tahir ul qadri to blackmail the government so the government is compelled to let Musharraf go out of Pakistan. As soon as Musharraf goes out of Pakistan, everything will be normalized.
At the age of 62 TUQ suddenly remembered that people of Pakistan are living in miserable conditions. Why he spent all his young age abroad? People don't need to listen more false dreams.
The policy of a corrupt fraudulent government which has merchandise candidates for high office like breakfast cereal that you can gather votes like box tops will be the ultimate indignity to the democratic process. We ought to understand that present political chaos is connected with such procedure and a group has inability to control these unqualified ministers, and that one can probably bring no improvement by starting at the verbal end and not muscles. When hand picked foolish ministers make a stupid remark, its stupidity will be obvious, even to your own party and by using Political language which may solve many disputes. A sick empty headed power hungry leader is designed to make lies sound truthful and a murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. One cannot change this all in a moment, but one can at least change one's own habits and avoid using force and if it does not happen then is the end to their government with veritable inferno. "An army of the people is invincible"
@ Salman ; The risk was with TUQ and so called un-armed protesters only. Use your brain also some time :)
Dear Rana, Do you think they will bring and want to bring revolution by conquering hearts with good deeds. and will demand electoral reforms,, to contest and win...Nooooo,,.. They want to use power and want to snatch with force... So they will bring devastation not revolution.