Qadri asks supporters to vacate Parliament lawns by Thursday

Qadri reiterates his workers did not attack Parliament, PTV headquarters.

ISLAMABAD: Addressing his supporters on Tuesday, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri once again refused to end his sit-in till Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns, but adhered to Supreme Court’s orders and asked his supporters to vacate the lawns of the Parliament by Thursday, and pitch their tents outside its gates.

Flanked by Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed, Qadri clarified that his “simple” workers did not break into the PTV headquarters and halt the state channel’s transmission. Instead, the firebrand cleric alleged that the government had staged the attack.

“Their (government) trained Gullu Butts entered the building.”

Qadri also had harsh words for Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah.

“Shah is speaking out against PAT because he is as corrupt as the Sharif brothers,” Qadri said, but hastened to add that his criticism does not extend to the PPP itself.

Qadri issued a stern warning to Shah: “Shah sb, stop talking or this matter will have far-reaching effects.”

He also warned PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to ‘handle’ Shah.

“Dont you dare call our party non-democratic,” Qadri said referring to comments made by Shah during the the joint session of parliament on Wednesday.

The PAT chairman also censured Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai for speaking out against him in Parliament.

On the second day of the joint session of Parliament, Achakzai said that the FIR registered in the Model Town incident should be “conditional,” on whether Qadri vacates the Parliament grounds.

However, on a lighter note, Qadri asked his supporters to send LEGOs, slides, toys and books for children at the protest.

“Send bats and balls as well, so Imran Khan can teach them how to play cricket,” Qadri asked supporters, adding, “I will play with them too.”

Drifting back to his demands, Qadri asked the government to release his supporters who are currently incarcerated and remove containers which are blocking the path to Islamabad.

“If you don’t see a sea of hundreds of thousands of people in three days, I will end the protests,” Qadri told his supporters in a thinly veiled taunt to the government.

Qadri also demanded that the judicial commission’s report, which holds Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif responsible for the Model Town clashes between PAT workers and police on June 17, should be presented before the Parliament and all parliamentary leaders in the joint session on Thursday.

“The judicial commission has given a report in which it holds Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif responsible for the blood bath on June 17,” he said, adding, “Shahbaz is hiding that report.”

Qadri also categorically denied that his workers had attacked Parliament. “People were hiding in the parliament lawns fearing the tear gas. They didn’t touch the building, or even the parking lot.”

To strengthen his stance, Qadri showed three pictures of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his federal ministers and supporters allegedly 'attacking' the Supreme Court, and Parliament and the Presidency.

“This is the real face of Nawaz Sharif,” he said.