PAT extends invitation to all political parties to attend protest on June 17

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur telephoned PML-Q senior leader Ch. Pervez Elahi yesterday and extended him an invitation to attend the PAT sit-on on June 17 on behalf of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Both leaders also agreed to meet on Saturday to discuss prevailing political situation in the country.

Meanwhile, addressing a meeting, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the peaceful protest of June 17 will be held on The Mall in every case. He said that we are threatened not by the terrorists hiding in mountains but those sitting in the government. He asked the Law Minister not to hurl threats, adding that we know that he has close contact with the banned outfits and can use them whenever he may want. He said that if Rana is held in captivity for one day on June 17, the PAT’s day-long protest will end peacefully in every case.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that we have invited PTI, MWM, PML-Q, PPP, MQM and JI for participation in the sit-in, adding that all these parties will attend the protest along with their delegations and workers. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri will reach London on June 10 where he would hold meetings with the PAT office bearers. He said that he would leave for Lahore on June 14 and reach Allama Iqbal International Airport on June 15 where he would be given warm reception.

The PAT Secretary General asked the government as to which party it stopped from staging protest on The Mall during last eight years. He said that it is for the first time that DCO Lahore has issued a letter disallowing the holding of protest, which is reflection of bias and ill-will towards the party, which is highly condemnable. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri stated before media categorically that the protest will be 100% peaceful and gave his personal guarantee for it, adding that the government should benefit from this personal commitment.

He said that it has been two years since the Model Town tragedy but justice has not been served yet. He said that taking to streets for justice is our constitutional right. He said that the people of Lahore will roll out a red-carpet welcome on June 15 and the PAT Chairman will address historic sit-in on June 17.