PAT, PTI threaten joint march & sit-in if oppression continues

Jahangir Khan Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan, senior PTI leaders, visited the central secretariat of PAT yesterday and held a meeting with PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur. The PTI leaders enquired after the health of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. Matters such as the Model Town tragedy, corruption of rulers, lawlessness and vindictive actions of the government came under discussion during the meeting. The upcoming by-election in NA-101 in Gujranwala was also discussed in great detail. The leaders of both parties strongly condemned the assassination attempt at the life of Raja Nadeem, the PAT Lahore leader and an important eye-witness of the Model Town tragedy by the hooligans of the PML-N last night.

The leaderships of both PAT and PTI were unanimous in their condemnation of increasing incidents of victimization and highhandedness employed by the government against their political opponents. They said that the PML-N has let loose its rascals with intent to create terror and fear and that they are not ready to accept the existence of anyone else except them.

Speaking at the occasion, Jahangir Khan Tareen warned that if oppression and injustice continued in the same fashion, then the PTI and PAT could take to the streets again to stage a sit-in. He said that PAT and PTI are on the same page against oppressive system, adding that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s struggle and sacrifices rendered by the PAT workers are unforgettable in this regard. He said that the NAB and Rangers should start action against corruption and lawlessness of the rulers in Punjab. He said that if the Prime Minister and the ministers have no blot of corruption on them, they should not fear NAB. He said that it pains us to see that two years are about to be completed since the Model Town tragedy took place but the families of the martyrs have not been provided justice as yet, adding that fair trial is nowhere in sight. He said that we are together on the APC planned by the PAT and the next course of action vis-à-vis Model Town tragedy. He said that no action is being taken on Jangla bus, Nandipur power scam and corruption cases.

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, while speaking at the occasion, said that we demanded fair trial in a press conference held at the Lahore Press Club a few days ago and highlighted biased trial currently underway in the antiterrorism court. He said that as retaliation, the PMLN goons attacked our important worker and an eye-witness, Raja Nadeem, in the darkness of night. He was intimidated and coerced. He said that police was informed on time but no action was taken. He said that Punjab police has become personal servant of rulers instead of becoming state employees, adding that we do not want the kind of police force, which takes salary from the taxes of the people but is subservient to the rulers. He asked the rulers not to consider PAT’s peacefulness as its weakness, stating that we can go to any limit for justice. He said that we are going to organize an APC on the Model Town tragedy in March and have invited the PTI leaders in this regard. He said that we are inviting other parties as well.

Both parties decided to accelerate the pace of political contacts and jointly face the oppressive actions of the Punjab Government.