Lahore, Dec. 26 (TNS): Amid reunion of political cousins, Imran Khan on Tuesday vowed to support Tahir-ul-Qadri in his movement of justice for Model Town massacre.
“I came here with my team to reassure PAT and Qadri that our party and the people of Pakistan are with them,” said the PTI chief while addressing a joint news conference alongside the PAT chief. “Whatever decision PAT takes, PTI will stand alongside it.”
Imran added that the tragedy of Model Town is not only PAT’s issue, but it is an issue for the people of Pakistan.
The PTI chief criticised Nawaz, saying the latter was brought to the forefront by a dictator but is worse as “they are a mafia”.
“They tried their best to hide what they did in Model Town.”
Imran further said Nawaz was brought to the forefront by a dictator and he is worse than a dictator as “they are a mafia”.
He alleged that state institutions were working for them. “NAB was saving them in the Hudaibiya case while Federal Bureau of Revenue made forged documents for the mafia.”
Imran also alleged that the Punjab police works on the orders of the Sharif family and are on their “beck and call”.
The PTI chief, referring to the movement announced by the former prime minister, said he is waiting for the campaign to start and added that “Nawaz can never start a movement”.
He further claimed that Nawaz is finished and he has not realised the reality yet.
Speaking at the news conference while sitting beside Imran, Qadri welcomed the support and said the PTI chief has stood by him and has fought the case as his own.
“Imran has jointly struggled with us and has stood by us throughout,” said Qadri. “The connection between PTI and PAT is very strong and our 2014 sit-in was a proof of that.”
Referring to the upcoming All Parties Conference called by PAT, Qadri said the future course of action will be announced after the conference.
Qadri, elaborating on the Model Town tragedy, claimed the former prime minister, Nawaz, also played a part in the episode.
“I am sure that the bloodshed could not have happened without Nawaz Sharif’s agreement, orders from [Punjab CM} Shehbaz Sharif and execution by [Punjab Law Minister] Rana Sanauulah.”
The PAT chief further claimed that the Punjab chief minister never gave the order to pull back the police forces.
He questioned on whose authority, if not the chief minister’s, could at least 1,000 police “shooters and snipers of the police” could be summoned to the spot.
Qadri also said all limits of injustice were crossed in the Model Town incident. “One brother was sent home over Panama, the other will go due to Model Town.”
He also said that the army’s help in the matter is not required and they need not step in.
The Model Town incident had claimed lives of at least 14 people and left over 100 others injured during an ‘anti-encroachment operation’ by Punjab police outside Idara Minhajul Quran in Lahore.
