Qadri ends Islamabad sit-in, to hold demos in different parts of the country

Instead of a single sit-in, PAT will stage protests across the country, a schedule for which was also announced

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday announced that he was ending sit-in at D-Chowk in the federal capital, Express News reported.

While addressing the sit-in participants on Tuesday, Qadri said the sit-in had turned into a revolution, and now there will be sit-ins across the country.

“The participants should pack their bags, return to their homes,” he said.

A schedule for PAT protest sit-ins was also announced.

On October 23, Qadri will travel to Abbottabad to hold a protest demonstration. In Bhakkar on November 23. A rally will be held in Sialkot on December 14 while another protest will be organised at Karachi’s Mazar-e-Quaid on December 25.

Qadri, along with his allied parties on Monday had decided to not hold rallies during the month of Muharram.

Sit-in did not fail

Qadri, while talking to Express News, dispelled the impression that his sit-in had failed.

“We did not fail,” he said. “All our demands were not met and neither did we back down, as we did not want to make a deal with the government.”

He added that a deadlock between PAT and government persisted as both the parties were not willing to withdraw any of their demands.

“We had our reservations about government, and we could not step back from our demand of resignations of the PM and CM Punjab.”

Qadri claimed that their sit-in had managed to spread their message among the public.

“In the joint session of Parliament, every party criticised the government, yet stood with the PML-N for the sake of democracy.”

When asked if he had consulted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over his decision to end his sit-in, he said, “We did not consult with them today but they knew that our plan to wind up the sit-in was in the making.”

He added that there was no conflict between PAT and PTI.

The PAT chief added that his struggle for change in government and the system will continue through the power of vote and Constitution.

We neither backed off from our standpoint nor we would. We opted for path of dialogue on the basis of principles. #JagUthaHaySaraWatan

— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) October 21, 2014