BHAKKAR: Firebrand cleric and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri addressed a gathering in Punjab's Bhakkar district on Sunday and asked his supporters to "destroy the system if elected rulers fail to deliver".

Qadri appealed to the charged crowd to vote for PAT candidate Nazar Abbas for the Nov 29 by-polls in the district. He added that the by-polls were in fact a preparing ground for a "bigger battle" yet to come.

"We are protesting against the corrupt and oppressive government," Qadri said.

The PAT chief said 90-day Islamabad sit-in awakened the people of Pakistan and promised the attendees that if his party ever formed the national government, they would change the entire system.

"We will change this corrupt system," he said, adding that they would divide the palaces of the feudal lords and build homes for the homeless.

Moreover, he said the corrupt rulers have looted the country's treasure for more than 65 years and oppressed the poor.

Qadri had returned to Pakistan on Nov 20. A large number of supporters, including scores of women, had gathered outside the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to welcome their leader.

Qadri had asked his supporters to remain peaceful and speaking to media representatives from inside the aircraft said: "The righteous shall win."

On his return, the PAT chief said that he was willing to surrender to police if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were arrested in relation to the Model Town tragedy.

Source: www.dawn.com