Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) Chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri has announced to launch a countrywide movement for resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah from January 17.The decision was taken in the meeting of Steering Committee of All Parties Conference (APC), held on December 30, 2017. It came a day after PAT led APC deadline set for the resignations of Punjab Chief Minister and Law Minister, who are accused of Model Town Tragedy.
The Model Town carnage orchestrated by the Punjab government was a cruel show of intoxicated power and absolute vendetta of the ruling Sharif Family in which even two pregnant women were not spared. They were killed by Punjab police by firing bullets putting barrels of automatic rifles in their mouths. 14 people were killed and about 100 wounded. This was nothing but vandalism despite the ruling party tall claims of upholding the established norms of democracy. Ironically, Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif watched this colossal heinous crime against humanity for hours on TV Screen but, very pathetically, he did not order the police to disengage from PAT worker at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat and stop straight firing. When PAT Chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri indicated his homecoming from Canada in June, 2014, Raiway Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique said in function, “Let this Maulana come, we will give him such a reception that he won’t forget.”
Political differences are solved through mutual conciliatory efforts and not by using the force of state machinery. In the previous PPP government, PAT, s Islamabad sit-in was amicably dispersed sagaciously by its leadership with meaningful dialogue. This was a reflection of upholding democratic norms. If the PML-N leadership had conceded PAT,s demand of resignation of Punjab Minister Rana Sanaullah or held an olive branch by engaging Dr Qadri in sincere dialogue the matter would have been resolved and the demand for the resignation of both Chief Minister and Law Minister would have not come. But the deadline of PAT led AP C was not taken seriously, hence opposition parties call for countrywide protest. Even now the leadership of ruling party does not realize its mistake. Addressing party workers in Chakwal, the disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attributed the oppositions’ protest call to his ouster as result of Supreme Court verdict in Panama Papers case disqualifying him for life.
Pakistan Tehril-i-Insaf, PPP, PML-Q and Awami Muslim League have apparently supported PAT,s countrywide protest but it remains to be seen how long these parties give their total support to it. In view of the unstable situation of this region and likelihood of terror attacks Pakistan can not afford political turmoil. It is time that the ruling PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif gives chance to reasons and abandon his obduracy to resolve the problems confronting the government politically by demonstrating a spirit of true democrat. He should also stop arms twisting of federal government and Punjab government.
