LAHORE 16 Aug 17 (TNS): Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday demanded that the Justice Baqir report on the Model Town killings be made public. He also announced that he will take out rallies in Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi after Eid-ul-Azha.
Addressing a sit-in held in remembrance of the 2014 incident, in which 14 were killed and scores injured on Mall Road here Qadri said that the “murderers” of the Model Town victims “have only lost their position in the government” after the Panamagate case verdict, “but the time is not far when you will lose your life for murdering the innocent people of Model Town.”
Along with Qadri, the protesters were joined by Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Fawad Chaudhry and Firdous Ashiq Awan.
Qadri questioned what is Shehbaz Sharif afraid of if he is not responsible for the tragedy?
“He (Shehbaz Sharif) was declared responsible for the incident by the report which is why he hasn’t made it public even after three years”. Qadri said.
“The thief has been caught. The murder behind the Model Town incident is still at large,” he said in an apparent reference to the Sharif brothers.
Qadri also said that his organisation will go to any extent for getting justice for the victims of the Model Town tragedy.
He said that he will be at the sit-in for as long as the protestors decide to participate, and announced that he will take out rallies in Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi after Eid-ul-Azha.
The PAT chief said that Nawaz Sharif talks about the sanctity of votes while he himself played a role in ousting Pakistan People’s Party government in the ‘90s.
“You yourself violated the sanctity of the vote,” PAT chief said.
He also warned that the protesters should not be taken for granted just because they are peaceful.
PAT and local traders had agreed to limit the party’s sit-in today to ensure it does not adversely affect business activity and traffic.
Moreover, the party had given an assurance to wrap up the sit-in by 10pm tonight and alter its venue tomorrow.
Earlier in the day, the PAT, traders and provincial advocate general were ordered by the Lahore High Court to find a solution after a trader petitioned the high court to stop the sit-in on Mall Road as it would disrupt public life.
The court had directed the respondents to resolved the matter after consultation or else the court would decide the issue itself. The court then went into a short recess.
After the agreement between the parties, the court dismissed the petition against the sit-in.
Sources said the PAT and traders had agreed the party would set up its stage at Mall Road’s Istanbul Chowk and keep its rally towards the Government College side so traffic and business is not disrupted.
Qadri’s container along with other equipment was transferred to Istanbul Chowk ahead of the sit-in.
The road leading from Lahore Museum to Istanbul Chowk has been closed to traffic. Heavy contingents of police as well as bomb disposal squad have been deployed at the site to prevent any untoward incident.
Sheikh Rashid has also reached Lahore for participating in the sit-in, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Q also lent its support to PAT for the sit-in.
The Lahore High Court and the city administration had barred PAT from making arrangements for the sit-in but the party maintained that whether it received the permission or not, the rally would be held as per schedule.
PAT leader Noorullah Siddiqui said on Tuesday the sit-in would be held by those affected by the Model Town incident and that it would be a peaceful protest, not a rally.
