PAT meeting: Qadri to announce party’s strategy against terrorism today

PAT leaders condemn Peshawar attack; demand action against Taliban supporters.

LAHORE:
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri will announce a strategy to deal with the issue of terrorism today, PAT central president Dr Raheeq Ahmed Abbasi said on Thursday while chairing a party meeting at the central secretariat.

“Dr Tahirul Qadri will address a press conference on Friday from the USA via video link and reveal a comprehensive plan against terrorism and announce the party’s future line of action,” Abbasi said in a statement issued by the party after the meeting.

The meeting reviewed several proposals before forwarding them to the chairman.



The participants paid tributes to Dr Tahirul Qadri for preparing and presenting the 600-page fatwa against terrorism.

The meeting offered prayers for the school children and teachers martyred in the Peshawar carnage. The participants strongly condemned the attack.

The meeting instructed the divisional heads of the party to start an informative and educational campaign to educate the public on terrorism. “The campaign will help people understand the issues and raise their voice against terrorism and issue guidelines in this regard,” the statement said.

The meeting was attended by former foreign minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar, central vice president of the party, Sajid Pervaiz, Chaudhry Mazhar Hussain Dawana, Brig (retd) Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Jawad Hamad, Raja Zahid, Ahmed Nawaz Anjum, Rana Idrees and Razia Naveed.


“The nation has given its verdict against terrorism. Now the ball is in the government’s court.

The PM must take action against those who have been in favour of so-called negotiations with the Taliban,” Dr Abbasi said.

He said that terrorism would not be eliminated by passing resolutions, but through concrete action. “In the 18-month rule of the present government, over 8,000 people have been killed by terrorists,” he said.

Sardar Aseff said that by issuing the fatwa, Dr Qadri had done a great service to the world and Pakistanis.

Khar said that terrorist threat had grown under the present government.

“If India and Sri Lanka can bring terrorism under control, then why cannot we do the same? The federal and provincial governments must make the safety of the people their priority,” the former governor said.

The meeting expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation in the country.

The meeting was informed that the Pakistan Awami Tehreek had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court to get a certified copy of the judicial commission report on the Model Town incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2014.
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