PAT celebrates its 32nd foundation day amid calls for change in the system

A special ceremony was held at the central secretariat to celebrate the 32nd foundation day of Pakistan Awami Tehreek. Addressing the ceremony, PAT Secretary-General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that PAT is the real voice of change. He said that hypocrisy is being committed in the name of change. He said that duality is at play in the country. While TV screens are being used to oppose the system, it is being provided with crucial support inside the legislatures. He said that all irrespective of whether they are in the Opposition or government, are getting their share of the cake. He said that the forces of status quo want to see the present system strengthened despite sporadic anti-system statements.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that PAT has emerged as the strongest voice calling for a change in the system. He said the workers ask as to how much more wait they will have to endure for justice in the Model Town case, asking the rulers that they should tell when those responsible for the tragedy will be brought to justice. He said that the minimum we expect during the present political dispensation is an answer to this question.

The ceremony was was also addressed by senior leaders, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Noorullah Siddiqui, and Arif Chaudhry. Those present on the occasion included Brig. (r) Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, Naeem-ud-Din Chaudhry, Engineer Muhammad Rafique Najam, Rana Muhammad Idrees, Jawad Hamid, Muhammad Farooq Rana, Mazhar Mahmood Alvi, Saqib Bhatti, Sidra Karamat, Hafiz Ghulam Farid, Ishtiaq Hanif Mughal, and Shahid Lateef.

Addressing the ceremony, PAT Secretary Information Noorullah Siddiqui asked as to what kind of change it is wherein those convicted by the courts would escape justice in the past and they are doing the same in the tenure of the current government. He said that the deals are being cut with the people who are supposed to be behind the bar. He said that the police system continues to remain oppressive. He said that the oppressed are being exploited and denied justice in the same way today as they were in the past. Nothing seems to have changed for the better, he added.

Central vice-president PAT Raja Zahid Mahmood said in his remarks that the institutions responsible for justice and investigation have lost their credibility. He said that the administration of justice is dependent on the identity of people seeking it. He said while the noble people are humiliated in police stations, those with deep pockets get respect. He said that the problems of the people have increased.

In his speech, central Secretary Coordination Arif Chaudhry said that the PAT workers protected Imran Khan during the sit-in of 2014 but he should have been thankful to the workers for their protection but he has overlooked the crucial support provided to him by PAT when he came into power. He said that we are not asking for public offices or funds but only justice for the Model Town tragedy. He said that we are still facing the fake cases registered by the previous government.

The ceremony was concluded by the cake-cutting and Dua for the peace and progress of the country. Raja Nadeem, Anila Dogar, Ayesha Mubashir, Sarfraz Khan, Allama Ghulam Murtaza Alvi, Hafiz Waqar, Saeed Akhtar, Hafiz Abid Bashir, Mian Zahid Javed, Tayyab Zia and others attended the foundation-day ceremony.