Daily Times: The tipping point in Pakistan

• October 25, 2014

The Sharif government has been weakened. Khatir Ghaznavi wrote so famously: “Go zara si baat par barsoan ke yaraaney gaye laikin itna to hua kuch loag pehchaney gaye” (years of friendship dissolved over a minor incident but served to expose some people). Dragging on this regime for another three and a half years seems difficult. Interestingly, freedom of the press was given to Pakistan by a dictator, Pervez Musharraf. Freedom of the press is an integral part of democracy. Despite all the claims of safeguarding democracy by parliament, the Sharif government has (temporarily) closed a private television channel. The blame is passed around: the Lahore High Court did not order the channel’s closure, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) ordered it but PEMRA does not have a legitimate chief, etc. read more...

Dunya News: PAT, allies decide to contest local body elections jointly

• October 27, 2014

LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and its political allies announced on Sunday to contest the local body elections jointly. The parties announced that they will contest elections at Union Council level separately and jointly on the Chairman level. PAT chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri said that the government acted against the constitution by not holding local body elections for 9 years and therefore, it’s staying in power in unconstitutional. read more...

The News: Qadri asks ECP members to resign before LG polls

• October 24, 2014

ABBOTTABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has asked all the four members of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to resign forthwith so that they would not be able to take part in delimitations of forthcoming local government (LG) elections. Addressing a gathering of Inqilab March at the Government Postgraduate College here on Thursday, he said that all political parties, except Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, had accepted that the May 2013 general elections were massively rigged that had damaged the credibility of the ECP. read more...

The News: LHC tribunal report on Model Town should be made public: Dr. Qadri

• October 24, 2014

HARIPUR: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief, Dr Tahirul Qadri has called for the Lahore High Court’s tribunal report on the Model Town tragedy to be made public. During his address at the PAT rally held here on Friday, Qadri said the revolutionary movement would continue until those responsible for the Model Town tragedy were sent to the gallows. Holding the Sharif brothers responsible for the tragedy, Dr Qadri questioned whether justice could be delivered if the accused had the authority to form the investigation team. read more...

The Nation: PAT to contest by-polls: Dr. Qadri

• October 26, 2014

LAHORE - Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Dr Tahirul Qadri arrived at his Model Town residence here on Saturday and dispelled the rumours about leaving the country. He also announced that PAT would be participating in by-polls. “Pakistan is my home and I will stay here, but can also visit foreign countries,” he said while addressing a press conference along with other PAT leaders. Qadri said the activities of his religious organisation would continue abroad. read more...

Dawn News: Qadri to travel abroad to revive PAT’s overseas offices

• October 26, 2014

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has said that he will travel abroad to revive his party’s overseas offices which have been dysfunctional since he resigned as member of the National Assembly in 2004. Talking to journalists outside his Model Town residence here on Saturday, he said PAT would field its candidates in all by-elections whether it succeeded in forcing the government to introduce reforms in the electoral set-up or not. read more...

Oman Tribune: Qadri to travel abroad to revive party activities

• October 26, 2014

LAHORE Pakistan Awami Tehr-eek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri has said that he will travel abroad to revive his party’s overseas offices which have been dysfunctional since he resigned as member of the National Assembly in 2004. He said PAT would field its candidates in all by-elections whether it succeeded in forcing the government to introduce reforms in the electoral set-up or not. “Our party became dysfunctional after I resigned from the assembly in 2004 in protest against the corrupt and tyrannical system. read more...

Samaa News: Nobody punished for Model Town massacre: Dr. Qadri

• October 26, 2014

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Allama Tahir ul Qadri accused the Punjab government of protecting people involved in Model Town massacre. Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, Qadri said not a single person was awarded punishment for the Model Town case. No step, he emphasized, was taken to dispense justice in Model Town killing case. “If state doesn’t provide justice than who does?” he questioned. Qadri said that successive democratic governments had not conducted local government election, which was a sheer violation of the Constitution. read more...

The News: I can go abroad, return whenever I want to: Qadri

• October 26, 2014

LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced his party would contest by-elections and local bodies elections in the coming months. He was talking to the media at his secretariat in Model Town after holding meetings with party office-bearers. Qadri, who has wound up his sit-in in Islamabad last week, parting ways with the undeclared ally Imran Khan, has already announced he would contest the next general elections in the country. read more...

We are still firm on our stance of a revolution, clarifies Qadri

• October 25, 2014

LAHORE: Chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday clarified that the Islamabad sit-in is not ended and we are firm on our stance of a revolution in the state, ARY News reported. Talking to media upon his arrival in Lahore, Dr Tahirul Qadri reiterated that the Islamabad sit-in is not ended; it is rather shifted nationwide. read more...