Signs of closure: Tahirul Qadri claims to have achieved most demands

Congratulates his followers for awakening the entire nation

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) is preparing to wrap up its sit-in before Eidul Azha with the clearest hint yet coming from its chief Dr Tahirul Qadri who declared on Saturday that the Inquilab March had achieved most of its goals and had ‘become the chorus of every heart’.

Addressing the participants of the sit-in in front at Constitution Avenue, Dr Qadri felicitated the marchers for awakening the entire Pakistani nation. “A revolution has taken place and its credit goes to the participants of this sit-in,” he said.

The PAT chief acknowledged contributions of the participants and asked them to submit their records, saying their efforts and sacrifices for revolution would always be remembered.

“Whenever my family or I will travel, I will stay only at the residences of the participants of the Inqlab March,” he added.

Qadri once again hit hard at the Punjab government and said that during the past seven years it had spent billions in the name of security and law and order, but the crime rate has increased by 110%.

The PAT chief also hinted at taking his anti-government movement all across the country.

Talking to The Express Tribune, one of the alleys of the PAT, Naveed Khan –who also has his own faction of Pakistan Muslim League – said they had proposed to Dr Tahirul Qadri to start demonstrations in major cities of the country.

“A meeting over the issue is likely to take place next week,” he added.

He said the PAT had previously held rallies and demonstrations in 56 cities of the country and they were contemplating doing it again. Responding to a question, he said that the decision would be taken after consultation with all the allied parties.

When asked about the status of talks with the government, he said 15 days ago, they had the last meeting with the opposition Jirga headed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, at the residence of former interior minister Rehman Malik.

“It seems that the government is of the view that our sit-in will fizzle out with the passage of time and there is no need to engage in talks but the number of protesters is increasing by the day,” he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2014.