The Traders Wing of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) organized a Traders Convention in the central secretariat of the party on July 21, which was attended by trader-leaders of over 25 traders’ bodies and Associations.

Addressing the Traders’ Convention, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the PAT chapters had started preparing lists of the millions of the educated but jobless youth. He instructed the educated youth to send their educational and other credentials to the central secretariat of PAT so that they could be included in the nation-building soon after the revolution.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri warned the police not to become a hurdle in the way of revolution. He urged them not to accept illegal orders of the anti-people, anti-state and anti-Constitution rulers. He made it clear to the police officials that they had two options open to them; either they should protect their jobs for a few days or save the respectable future of their country, for after the revolution, there would not be any place for them in the country for having acted in contravention of the Constitution. He said that one million people would be included in power after the revolution.

Mian Inam-ur-Raheem of Traders Alliance Wing, Faisalabad, pledged on the occasion that the traders of Faisalabad and Punjab would sacrifice their resources and wealth for revolution.

Muhammad Shafique Raza of Anjman Tajran Lahore, while expressing his views, said that those who suffered oppression lying down were oppressor in their own right because they encouraged their tormentors through their passivity. He asked the 180 million victims to stand up to the worst ever repression by the ruling elite.

Rao Muhammad Akram of Lahore Merchant Association said on the occasion that the current rulers painted very rosy picture before the traders’ community and now their life had become miserable after the elections

Chaudhry Afzal of Sitara Mills Association, Lala Musa, also expressed his views in the Convention and said that we were ready to offer every kind of sacrifice for the cause of revolution.

Haji Ishaq, president of Awami Tajar Ittehad, said that the traders’ community of the entire country would support Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri on the day of revolution. Secretary General of Awami Tajar Ittehad, Altaf Randhawa said on the occasion that the traders were waiting for revolution, which would rid them of oppression and coercion. He said that they were determined to support Dr Qadri for this cause.

The traders thanked Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri for extending his all-out support to Zarb-e-Azb operation and as a token of acknowledgement presented shield to him on this occasion. A number of trader leaders including Raja Zafar, Haji Muhammad Yameen and Rehman Taj belonging to ruling PML-N announced to leave their party and join PAT on this occasion.

The following are the names of traders and their Association that attended the Traders’ Convention:

Haji Ishaq, Chairman Awami Tajar Ittehad, Altaf Randhawa, Secretary General of Awami Tajar Ittehad, Rehman Taj, president Anjman Tajran Shahdran, Chaudhry Azmat Ali, Secretary General Lahore Karyana Merchant Association, Sheikh Muhammad Rehan, President of Auto Market Choburji, Rana Haneef, wholesale dealer of Floor and Sugar Association, Salahuddin, President of Mobile and Electronics Association Hall Road Lahore, Rao Muhammad Akram Khan, President of Lahore Karyana Merchant Association Lahore, Iqbal Hussain Mughal, Bus Body Association Bund Road Lahore, Chaudhry Akram, President of Baby Cycle Manufacturing Association, Ch. Jalil, President of Anjman Tajran Macleod Road Lahore, Muhammad Shafique Raza, President of Anjman Tajran Lahore, Haji Muhammad Younus Rath, Badami Bagh Auto Parts Market, and Rana Muhammad Manzoor, senior vice chairman Karyana Merchant Association.