PAT’s four-point agenda to eliminate oppressive system: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

Talking to a private TV channel, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that the people of the ruling party are so shrewd that they will put their hands into the pockets of Nawaz Sharif and the money would be found in the pockets of Imran Khan. He said that he prays for success of Imran Khan’s struggle but added in the same breath that no consultation was ever carried out with PAT at any stage to date. He said that PPP’s four demands placed before the government are like a cake. He said that Nawaz Sharif is fighting 33% war for survival of his power and the remaining 67% is being fought by someone else.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that we are very clear in our agenda. He said that we have four objectives; Qisas is followed by accountability, reforms, and elections. He said that what we want is change in the system not of faces and that all thieves and robbers are kicked out. He warned that if elections were conducted without accountability and reforms, the same old corrupt faces will be returned to the positions of power. He said that both PAT and PTI took separate decisions with reference to 2014 sit-in. He said that we are ten steps ahead of the PTI when it comes to accountability. He made it clear that it was we who brought the focus back on long-forgotten Articles 62 and 63.

The PAT Chairman said that the question is as to what will happen if the PM did not let accountability take place nor resign and who will take the resignation from him. He said that all institutions are beholden to the government. He said that if the PTI decides to resign from assemblies, it would add real pressure on the government. He stated it categorically that he has no differences with the PTI, adding that if their delegation had contacted, the decision to join them would not have been impossible.

Dr Qadri said that firstly Nawaz Sharif would not tender resignation and secondly if at all he stepped down, he would be replaced by the likes of Mamnoon Hussain, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khwaja Asif. He said that it is elimination of the oppressive, corrupt and exploitative system that should be sought and struggle waged for.

Talking about impediments in the justice system, he said that the example of Mazhar Hussain is there for all of us to learn lessons from. He said that at a time when the Supreme Court set Mazhar free in October after captivity of 19 years on false charges, it came to be known that he had died two years ago. His death and illegal imprisonment left hard questions for justice system of the country.