Justice is still awaited after seven years: Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri addresses protest rallies

Addressing scores of protest rallies held across the country marking the seventh anniversary of Model Town tragedy, MQI founding-leader Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that it is perfectly understandable as to why justice was not provided during the incumbency of the previous government but asked as to why the doors of justice continue to remain shut in the PTI government. He said that PM Imran Khan held numerous press conferences with him and attended various demonstrations seeking justice for the martyrs of Model Town tragedy. He said that the oppressed keep going from pillar to post in search of justice and the killers who should have been behind bars remain at large today. He said that the fake and politically motivated FIRs registered against the PAT and MQI workers by the previous government are still in force and asked in the same breath as to why this oppression continues unabated.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif who indulged in bloodbath to preserve their power have met their ignoble end. He said that it may not be possible for Nawaz Sharif to set his foot on the land of Pakistan again throughout his life and the younger brother is living his life as an accused on a bail. He said that the justice from Allah is delivered silently, adding that there could be delay in the judgement of Allah but it does arrive sooner or later. He said that whosoever transgressed and committed a wrong will be held to account for his/her actions. He said that the orphan children, widows & widowers and family members of the martyrs ask Prime Minister Imran Khan as to why they continue to remain deprived of justice under his watch.

Addressing the Prime Minister, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the previous rulers registered the fake FIRs against our workers for their nefarious designs but why were these FIRs not withdrawn in his government? He said if Imran Khan wishes, these FIRs can be withdrawn through a single executive order but asked in the same breath as to why he has let them stay intact and for what reason.

A joint rally was taken out under the banner of the Lahore chapters of PAT and MQI for the expression of solidarity with the martyrs of Model Town. The rally was led by Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Jawad Hamid, Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, Hafiz Ghulam Farid, Ishtiaq Hanif Mughal, Haji Farrukh Khan Qadri, Allama Imdad Hussain Shah, Allama Muhammad Khaleel Hanfi, Ali Qureshi, Ms. Noreen Alvi, Asghar Sajid, Engineer Sanaullah, Haji Muhammad Amjad Qadri, Mian Mumtaz Hussain, Chaudhry Iqbal and Hafeezullah Javed. Thousands of men, women and children attended the rally. They were carrying banners and playcards and demanding justice, restoration of JIT and the withdrawal of the fake cases.

Addressing the participants of the rally, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that justice has not been delivered despite the passage of seven years. He asked as to who has created hurgles in the way of justice. He said that directions given by the honorable Supreme Court to the lower courts for timely settlement of the cases are not implemented. He said that an act of oppression was committed on June 17, 2014 but another kind of it continues to be perpetrated in the form of lack of justice.

Meanwhile, rallies and demonstration were arranged under the banner of Pakistan Awami Tehreek across the country. The cities and towns where these protests were held include Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Abbottabad, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Narowal, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Muridkay, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Pakpattan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Mian Channu, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahwalnagar, Bahalwalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Sargodha, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sohawa, Pind Dadan Khan, Deena, Larkana, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Shahdad Kot, Tando Adam Khan, Khipro, Gambit, Dokri, Dera Ismail Khan, Dir, Kotli, Bhimber, etc. The protesters expressed their solidarity with the families of martyrs and demanded of the government to deliver justice.