If Balochistan CM can be removed on terrorism, why cannot Shahbaz Sharif? Asks Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that when terrorists killed innocent citizens in Balochistan in January 2013, the family members of the martyrs and the injured staged a sit-in for the arrest of the unknown terrorists. Resultantly, the government of Chief Minister Aslam Raisani was removed and an emergency was clamped in Balochistan. He said that those who indulged in the bloodbath in Balochistan belonged to the defunct organizations. However, those who killed defenceless people in Model Town on June 17 were not the members of the banned outfits but the officials of the Punjab police, which is a government organization. He asked as to why the hurdles in the way of justice cannot be removed with the resignation of the Punjab Chief Minister. He further asked whether the Sharif family is a resident of a different planet that they choose to kill innocent people, loot national exchequer, hurl threats at the Supreme Court and play with the national security but no one can dare touch them.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri made these remarks while addressing the central Core Committee of the party at the central secretariat yesterday. Thanking the leadership of the political parties that attended the APC, he said that this is the first multiparty moot in the history of the country that met on the single point agenda of seeking justice for the oppressed and announced to launch a movement for this purpose. He said that it is a proud chapter of the national history that all political forces set aside their difference and stood by the oppressed.

Dr Qadri said that it has been three and a half years but justice has yet to be provided. He said that what to speak of the resignations, none of the accused nominated in this heart-rending incident of terrorism and violence has been issued an arrest warrant. He said that the rulers set up JITs of their liking and were able to get clean chits from them. So much so that they had the gall to shift the responsibility of the massacre to the martyrs. He asked with what face and in what capacity are the Punjab Chief Minister and the Law Minister holding on to their positions after the publication of the Najfi Commission report?

The meeting also formed a committee that will stay in touch with the political parties and keep them updated on the progress of the Model Town case in the court of law and also seek their consultation and input. Constituted under the headship of PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, the committee will brief the PAT Chairman on the engagement and consultation with the political parties on daily basis.

The Core Committee also condemned the unwarranted increase in the prices of the POL products and demanded its withdrawal. Dr Qadri said that the hike in the prices of the POL products will affect the common man. He said that with the announcement of the new prices, the transporters have increased the fares and the poor will have to pay the additional cost through their nose.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri further stated that if an attempt was made to give NRO to the killers, then we would convene another APC and announce a National Action Plan. He said that the Sharif family has made an investment of billions of rupees in Saudi Arabia and anti-corruption drive is underway there. Upon being compared to Nawabzada Nusrallah by former President Asif Ali Zardari, he said that he was thankful to him for such words. He said that the credit for the conduct of the APC does not go to him or PAT but to all political forces that attended it including Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari. He said that if this unity and solidarity stays intact, the oppressed will surely get justice and the rule of law will also be established in the country.

Dr Qadri said that had his real sons been murdered, he would have the option of taking revenge or pardoning the killers. He however added in the same breath that his spiritual sons and the workers of Tehreek were killed in Model Town and he has no right from the point of view of Islamic law to pardon the killers. He further said that surrendering the right of revenge will be akin to deviation from the commandment of Allah, His Prophet (SAW) and the Holy Quran.

The PAT Chairman said that the meetings with Khurram Nawaz Gandapur that are being mentioned by the government spokespersons is part of sinister campaign of lies and fabrication. He said that those spewing venom are nominated killers and ‘renowned’ liars. He said that the allegations of the killers have no importance and value, vowing that we would avenge every drop of the martyrs’ blood. He said that whatever decision is taken will be taken from the platform of the Steering Committee of the APC because all political parties have owned the struggle for justice. He said that we would not make any decision individually.