Town tragedy: Zardari, Tahirul Qadri demand Shehbaz Sharif’s resignation

F.P. Report

LAHORE: Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri have been addressing a news conference in Lahore.

Zardai called on Qadri at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Lahore on Thursday evening.

This was the first time that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman visited the Minhajul Quran Secretariat.

The two sides held a meeting, wherein Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Manzoor Watto and Qamar Zaman Kaira were also in presence.

Speaking at the news conference, Qadri said the Model Town inquiry report clearly indicated Shehbaz Sharif as a “murderer.”

“The barriers [around Minhajul Quran Secretariat] were lawful and no one had objected to them for three years. The force which was sent used unlawful means. They were there to drop bodies and not remove barriers,” he said of the incident which took place on June 17, 2014.

The PAT chief alleged the entire operation had been conducted under the supervision of Rana Sanaullah.

“People, who say the report is not conclusive, are lying,” he said, adding that anyone who reads the report prepared by Justice Baqir Najfi commission will know who was responsible for the Model Town tragedy.

“Rana Sanaullah should step down and surrender himself to law,” he demanded.

“We will take steps, with in the ambit of the law and the constitution, to bring those responsible for Model Town incident to justice,” Qadri announced.

Taking his turn, Asif Ali Zardari said, “Enough is enough, Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shehbaz must resign. After this report, he stands condemned and a condemned man cannot remain the CM of the largest province of Pakistan.”

“We came here today to express our solidarity with Allama sahib,” he said. “Now we will not tolerate Shehbaz. Now we will fight and take to the streets with him (Qadri).”