PAT chief arrives in Lahore | Says JIT formed to give clean chit to plotters, killers | Rules out rift with Imran

LAHORE - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, who was accorded a warm welcome by his party leaders and supporters on his return from the three-week foreign visit on Thursday morning, has said that he was willing to surrender to police if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were arrested on account of their involvement in the Model Town killings.

He was speaking at a news conference at his residence. He further said that the JIT was formed to give a clean chit to plotters and killers, adding, that it was against the principles of justice and law. He said it was pathetic that a retired judge was being appointed to review the Judicial Commission report of a serving judge. He alleged that the government was offering various baits to people who could turn approvers in the June 17th Model Town killings.

While some officials are being sent abroad, the Chief Minister’s former Principal Secretary Dr Tauqeer Shah is being appointed as Ambassador to Geneva.

Before reaching his Model Town residence, Dr Qadri was driven from the airport to Data Darbar where he laid a floral wreath and offered Fateha. The journey was covered in six hours.

Answering a question, he rejected the Joint Investigation Team constituted to probe the dozen plus killings caused by the police during the operation launched to remove barricades outside the residence of the PAT chief. The man appointed as head of the team is the personal friend of the Punjab Chief Minister, he alleged.

The JIT had held its first meeting here on Wednesday and summoned the PAT leaders to record their point of view.

However, the PAT leaders deny they received any notice, and insist that they wouldn’t appear before the probe body.

Dismissing rumours of a rift between PAT and PTI, Dr. Qadri said he has no differences with PTI chief Imran Khan.

“PTI and PAT leaders had been in contact even when he was away from Pakistan. PAT President Raheeq Abbasi, who is in my car right now, received a call from PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, welcoming me to Pakistan,” he said. Qadri said he has decided to take his sit-ins to other parts of the country. He also announced that PAT would participate in every election in future including the by-election in Bhakkar next month. “Our struggle is no more confined to a single sit-in but will be transformed into a nationwide movement of sit-ins,” he said, revealing his plans to hold rallies in Bhakkar, Sargodha, Sialkot, Mansehra and Karachi on November 23, December 5, 14, 21 and 25 respectively.

Qadri said he was delighted to see a large of crowd and party workers to welcome on his homecoming – a reception which he said was not expected. There is an ‘ocean’ of workers which can be seen by anyone, he said. Dr Qadri hastened to add that his party had made no arrangements for such large number of people.

“Presence of people in large numbers shows that they are bent on bringing about a revolution. They are striving against status quo and oppressive system in Pakistan,” he added. He said it seems that revolution was now a destiny of hundreds of thousands of people. The PAT chief said he had not sighted any police contingent around him. “They would certainly be here, but I have not seen them so far.” Earlier, Qadri arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on Thursday morning concluding his visit to US, Canada and UK. The PAT chief reportedly visited these countries for medical check-up as well as reorganising his party. A large number of supporters, including scores of women, had gathered outside the Allama Iqbal International Airport and were part of the PAT chief’s convoy on his journey.

Source: www.nation.com.pk