Addressing a press conference at Minhajul Quran secretariat along with a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Qadri alleged that the government had hijacked his plane carrying 276 passengers.
Continuing his tirade against Punjab police, Qadri alleged that on his arrival the Punjab police and government committed terrorism similar to the one committed on June 17 at Model Town, Lahore.
He said 1,400 more activists of PAT had been arrested in Islamabad and Rawalpindi under terrorism charges even though they were not carrying any weapons.
Qadri added that the police fired tear gas at innocent men and women in Islamabad leaving dozens of them injured. He claimed that the police hired hundreds of ‘Gullu Butts,’ the man responsible for damage to property during PAT rallies, to pose as PAT workers.
He said hundreds of policemen were in civil dresses and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should explain who they were.
Qadri said that the rulers were blaming him for derailing democracy and violating the constitution, but instead they themselves had tried to derail democracy and violated the constitution by bringing hired terrorists in police vehicles to attack peaceful protesters.
He alleged that the police was conducting raids to arrest leaders of PAT at district, tehsil and union council level in a bid to quell their movement.
Qadri also asked for the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and said that the concerned police officers should be terminated and for the formation of a joint investigation team excluding police personnel to investigate the incident.
The PAT leader also maintained that he would not go abroad, until the incumbents are removed.
Extending support for Zarb-e-Azb
Furthermore, Qadri extended support for operation Zarb-e-Azb, labeling it a jihad against terrorists. He said that the operation is in accordance with Islam and the nation should support the armed forces.
He further added that He would address the whole nation on some day to develop national consensus over operation.
While asking his supporters to mark the next five Fridays as ‘Zarb-e-Azb Day’, Qadri told them to take out peaceful rallies in solidarity with the armed forces.
Qadri also expressed support for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and announced that he will dispatch 25,000 packages comprising food and medicines for IDPs within the next few days.
He urged his supporters to set-up donation collection camps across the country and abroad for the IDPs. These contributions would then be distributed among IDPs through government channels. Qadri called on the federal and provincial governments allocate a budget for the IDPs. He said that his plans for visiting the IDPs will be announced soon.
Condemnations
The PAT leader condemned torture on journalists and cable operators who were demanding the removal Pemra chief.
He said Pemra is an institution of journalistic terrorism and the Supreme Court should take notice against it and disband it. He added that the performance and functioning of Pemra was not constitutional, thus the government should constitute another media regulator body in consultation with journalistic bodies.
In response to a question, Qadri said that he did not compel any passenger to not leave the flight in fact, a number of people including Raja Zafrul Haq left the plane. He said that had they forced passengers to remain on board, he would not have let Raja Zafrul Haq leave as he who could be the best reason for dialogue with the government.
Answering another question regarding the judicial commission, Qadri said that he would not accept any commission during the tenure of the present government which had tampered relevant records.
He added that he did not doubt the integrity of the judge but had reservations against the government.
COMMENTS (22)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Umer - you were saying.....
http://www.dawn.com/news/1114710/cvc
@3rdRockFromTheSun:
How will Emirates justify not taking him to his intend destination Islamabad for no good reason political immaturity of n league?
Tahir ul qadri seems to be an educated man from appearance. But his action reveal that he is an illiterate man. He does not know the ethics of communication.
Media is giving extra coverage to Qadri. Why? His party has no representation in the Assembly. If he has so much confidence in him, his party should contest elections. He is an ordinary man. Media is requested to do justice.
Suing Emirates? Really?
In fact it is Emirates that should be suing him for the financial loss - an airline like Emirates maximizes the use of their aircraft; hence this delay would have had an effect on this aircraft's next flight out of Dubai; and would have impacted Emirates' schedule downstream; and of course caused Emirates a loss. Also, I think Mr Qadri should start contacting shipping companies to rent a container for his trip back to Canada - surely no airline in their right minds would take him on as a passenger.
And as a Canadian citizen, I am upset at the Canadian govt for not going after Qadri for fraud - he is on 'benefits' here; which come out of my (and other citizens') taxes!
And finally the role of the Pakistani govt in this fiasco - the less said the better! That a govt could be blackmailed by an individual; and the govt gives in speaks volumes of the strength of the said govt.
What Qadri is doing is totally wrong... I am not a PLMN support but we should stand with them if anyone is trying to derail the government. Because nobody has 'Jadu ka Chirag' to solve the Pakistan Issue. Let them work and then nation decides whom to elect based on the current government past five years of performance.
This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. TUQ is nothing but a disruptionist taking the law into his own hands.
The two biggest parties in the country namely: PPP and PML-N are very interested and have high stakes in continuing the democratic process in Pakistan to finally put the country on the right footing.
Every one else in Pakistan including IK, TuQ, chaudhry gang, sheikh rashid are just opportunists and are very scared of the democratic process because that would not leave any room for them in a fair election process.
Lastly, one of the main violaters and abusers of this democratic process are the die hard loyalists of these one night stand leaders and are just as guilty in hindering Pakistan's growth.
Do it!
Pakistan has been ruled by two dynastic dictatorships for the last four decades. The Bhuttos/Zardari's along with the Sharifs think it's their birth right to continually rule over a country of 180 million people. They have done this through electoral fraud and rigging. Over the years they have embezzled and siphoned off the equivalent of billions of dollars which they have carefully hidden abroad. In the meantime Pakistan is an impoverished and destitute nation where the governments of these families have failed to even provide basic necessities to the population of Pakistan such as clean drinking water, electricity and gas. They live in palatial splendour while the vast majority of Pakistani's live in abject poverty and squalor, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Pakistan doesn't know the meaning of the word democracy, this is a ugly sham democracy and a dynastic dictatorship. But they should heed what has happened in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, where angry and disgruntled segments of society rose up and overpowered similar long-term monocratic rulers. Pakistan is at simmering point. It's about time these two families realized that.
this is a joke right ? haha he is going to sue the govt. what kind of a joke is this
His support is a game changer. The Taliban were just waiting which side he is on. Now surely they will surrender.
@Nida Alvi: Miss ! One should have knowledge before saying anything, I wanna correct you that he hasn't given FATWA against JIHAD, instead, against TERRORISM..
Sir Qadir Saheb: Please let PML(N) do its work. People has given them the mandate. Pakistan is going through difficult times where the security is utmost important, and the last thing we need is a call for so-called "revolution" at this time..
Thank you very much sir. Now please stop destabilising this country at once. You have already given numerous sleepless nights to the investors who were and who are trying to invest in Pakistan. Please stop creating any new mess.
While army jawans are sacrificing their lives for the country these damn politicians are doing their own dramas. Shame on these politicians as well as media, which been providing an endless coverage of these crooks.
His actions speak louder than his thunderous words! He had given fatwa against jihad but now speaks in favor of Zarb-e-Azb as jehad. The only good this guy can do good to Pakistan is to go back to Canada and leave us alone.
@Oats: And what do you think is Noora-League doing? Stabilizing Pakistan? They are in fact biggest internal enemies of Pak Army!
MashaAllah he has been speaking in favour of full scale operation against terrorists for a while.