LAHORE: A visibly agitated Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri slammed the government on Tuesday for attempting to derail his Youm-e-Shuhada rally on August 10 by harassing transporters.
Seated with members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on his left and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat, the PAT chief said the licenses of drivers were being cancelled.
"Route permits are being taken from transporters ... actually, they are being snatched from them," said Qadri, adding that the government is trying to derail the Youm-e-Shuhada rally in Lahore on August 10 in honour of those who had died in the Model Town clashes in which over a dozen PAT workers were killed.
Further, Qadri said the August 10 rally is solely meant to mourn the victims of the Model Town tragedy and that his party would conduct meetings after the event to announce their plans for Youm-e-Inqiliab.
He assured his supporters and the government that the the rally on August 10 would be peaceful while requesting his followers to bring their prayer mats for recitation of the Quran.
"Our main aim is to bring a peaceful revolution," Qadri said.
The PAT chief went on to slam the government for accusing him of terrorist activities. "All these FIRs you are registering against us, be ready for them to be issued against you after August 10," he said.
"Previously, when there was a coup, you went and hid. The army had to come get you out, after which you fell to their feet and then ran away. Today, Musharraf is not here to do this, now the masses will be hold you accountable," said a fiery Qadri.
"You will not get the opportunity to run away from this country. We will not put you on the ECL. This will be the work of the masses."
"The amount of deaths you have caused in Peshawar, Lahore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Hangu, Karachi... are these people not Pakistani? Are they not human?" Qadri asked rhetorically.
Previously, Qadri had said the current government would be ousted before the end of August. Today, in his speech, he reiterated this statement, saying that the current government would be ousted before August 31.
Further, Qadri said Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) would be made into a seperate province to ensure the people of G-B receive all the benefits other provinces do.
COMMENTS (8)
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IK has been making anti government statements for the last three months, he even threatened to hand police officers himself yet the government hardly reacted to any of his notions.... to me this seems like an under the table muk muka! now here comes Qadri, makes one speech on the 3rd of August and within hours the government holds a counter press conference misusing prescripts from Qadri's speech... proving they tried to do some research in their offensive against Qadri but their incompetence was soon exposed by media unable to match the two versions of what Qadri actually said and what the government claims he said! All in all I am clear that any party within this system including IK is part of this Muk Muka as they are all beneficiaries of this system, unable to make any significant changes they stand for! Qadri remains to be the only force that makes the status quo frightened of losing their STATUS QUO! Makes complete sense and think Qadri is a master strategist! the way he handled the 3rd August announcement of his long march was unpredictable yet he retained the importance of the launch date of his revolution! organizing Youm e Shuhada on 10th August must have startled PTI lagoons also as now they stand nervous of what happens if Qadri doesn't join them... which he wont..
Why does this guy want to create fuss & chaos when the Country is going through a war? If he has (or collects) the money/wealth he should spend this money on the IDPs. The independent Media should not give so much courage to this psychotic clown.... Enough is enough!!
@Ishtiaq: What does Tahirul Qadri care about how his followers will get to the rally. Tahirul Qadri will fly first class to the rally or go in a limousine. What a shame that his followers can't see this man for the manipulator he is. Tahirul Qadri just needs to be arrested and shipped to Canada! He has no right to harass an entire country!
What about yourself! Harassing the entire nation without any guts.These may be treasonous crimes while inviting and encouraging a legal government to be overthrown, may be working on any illicit agenda. People of this kind must be dealt with cleaning them without any sympathy when Pakistan is going through an internal war and any obstacle to support our military must be created an example so that people having illicit agenda must be taken seriously no matter how small they may be.
Dictatorial tactics of PML-N! Highly condemnable
Dirty tactics by PMLN, but qadri's followers will still reach there despite all hurdles, they had tried to stop PAT workers from reaching Airport when Qadri came to Pakistan, but thousands were there.