Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri promises support to Imran Khan

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that even those who raised allegation of rigging did not talk about involvement of the army in the election process and those people have made these accusations who have lost out the election, stating that it is a standard practice here. He said that these allegations were made during the elections of 2013 and even before. He said that Nawaz Sharif is facing the imprisonment due to proven corruption cases against him and we are waiting for the arrest of Shahbaz Sharif in the Model Town case so that the families of the martyrs could get justice.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri made these remarks while talking to local media after addressing a conference in Berlin yesterday. He said that arrest of Nawaz Sharif and the punishment awarded to him has nothing to do with the electoral process. He said that he was punished because he failed to present money trail in the courts and JIT, explaining his massive properties in the UK. He said that it was not under the Martial Law regime that he was punished. Rather it was during the tenure of his party’s government that he was found guilty after a thorough probe and handed down sentence as per law of the land.

Dr Qadri said that if Imran Khan acted according to his first victory speech, his support and that of his party will be with him. He said that with what face those making the allegations of rigging without proof have raised the slogans of giving respect to vote. He said that time has come for them to act upon the lessons they had been teaching to their political opposition during the last five years. He said that if anyone has proofs of rigging, he/she should present it before the appropriate forum. He said that threats of starting an agitation before presentation of rigging proofs before the concerned forums is nothing but expression of desperation.

The PAT Chairman said that Pakistan is confronted with challenges on the fronts of economy, foreign policy and internal security, stating that an independent and active foreign policy is a must to steer the country out of crises. He said that by keeping the foreign affairs portfolio with himself, incompetent and convicted Nawaz Sharif was responsible for isolating Pakistan in the world, leaving various challenges for the new government to contend with. He said that the PAT did not take part in the elections because no electoral reforms were done prior to it. He said that time has come that the institutions of the state are made powerful and independent of influence of the personalities so that no one is able to raise any finger on their credibility in the future.

A special prayer ceremony was arranged at the central secretariat to mark the death anniversary of Dr Farid-ud-Din Qadri, the revered father of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. PAT and MQI leaders and workers attended the gathering in a large number. PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Noorullah Siddiqi, Jawad Hamid, Sayyid Musharraf Hussain Shah and other leaders were present on the occasion.