Street power: PTI, PAT endangering country, says Hamza

Says Qadri inciting followers to violence.

LAHORE:

MNA Hamza Shahbaz said on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were putting the country in danger to satisfy their lust for power.

He was addressing a delegation of religious leaders at his Model Town residence.

He said that PAT chief Tahirul Qadri was inciting his followers to violence.

He said that the nation was preparing to celebrate independence day and paying tribute to Zarb-i-Azb martyrs. “The people will not allow enemies of progress and prosperity of the country to hijack the Constitution or democracy,” he said. He said that clerics should play their role in preserving the political stability in the country.

“The demands put forward by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri so far are undemocratic. Qadri’s demand about 14 bodies has shown that he is not averse to anarchy or shedding blood in pursuit of power,” he said.

He said that under these circumstances, the government had to meet responsibilities regarding law and order. “We too have some reservations about the electoral system. However, we believe that parliament is the right forum to settle these matters,” he said.

He said that Imran Khan wanted to stop the development process. “Political adventurism at such a time amounts to betrayal of the sacrifices of our soldiers in their fight against terrorism,” he said. He said that democracy was necessary for national development and prosperity.

“The Chaudhry brothers are fond of dictatorship. They cannot understand the importance of democracy,” he said.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah and provincial ministers Bilal Yasin and Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2014.