Dr. Tahir Ul Qadri alerts workers for protest call

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has directed workers on Wednesday to remain alert and wait for a call to launch protests against the government of Punjab Justice Ali Baqar Najafi commission report pointed fingers at Punjab Police and government’s inaction in Model Town incident.

Dr Qadri addressed a press conference in the provincial capital today during which he instructed workers of the political party to remain alert and prepare to protest against the government seeking justice for 14 lives lost in deadly clashes in Model Town on June 17, 2014.

The PAT chief said that for the past 26 hours, government officials including Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, have been saying that the report did not hold any official responsible for the Model Town tragedy, “this is false propaganda”.

Qadri added that he did not try to access the real report before the court issued orders, but as the latter has been done, the real report needs to be accessed and compared with the one which was released.“A meeting of the core committee [of my party] and lawyers is scheduled for tomorrow,” said Qadri.

He also said that he has advised his party workers and the administration to remain ready, as at “anytime a call can be given”. “My message to the workers is that they should stay ready.”

The PAT chief further said that he has asked the administration of his party to keep his container ready and further elaborated that though he plans to go for Umrah on Dec 11, his plans can change if the situation evolves.

On Tuesday, Qadri said that God willing, both Sharif brothers will be behind bars soon.

PAT chief said that the party would get hands on the ‘real report’ after court’s order are issued. He said that the dates mentioned in the commission report give birth to suspicions. Purported warning of the PAT chief has come in a day after Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered Punjab government to make the one-member commission inquiry report public over Model Town tragedy, that was held by the authorities for over three years.

Earlier, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) was given a certified copy of the Model Town Judicial Inquiry Report.

After getting the copy of Justice Baqir Najafi’s report, PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that his party was stuck to its demand of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Before coming to court, Gandapur along with PAT workers and heirs of those killed in the operation reached Civil Secretariat to get the copy of the report. A large number of PAT workers were present on the occasion who resorted to full-throated sloganeering against the provincial government. They demanded strict action against those held responsible in Najafi’s report for the killings.

Later, Gandapur was provided certified copy of the report which he also showed to media present there. He added that it would take two to three days to read the 132-page report.

After getting the copy, PAT workers and supporters peacefully dispersed. It is to be mentioned here that on Tuesday Punjab government made Model Town incident 2014 report public following Lahore High Court orders.

The Lahore High Court had ordered the Punjab government to release the inquiry report on the Model Town tragedy within a month.