PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has announced to convene a national consultative meeting of the opposition political parties on July 31 to decide on the next course of political agitation against the anti-people government. He made this important announcement while addressing a reception arranged by Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmad at Lal Haveli on July 10.

In his welcome address, Sheikh Rashid said that the political parties and the people of Pakistan will have to be on the same page against the looters, robbers and thieves of Panama. He said that those refusing to become part of struggle against the looters will be considered to be supporters of the corrupt government. PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur also addressed the meeting, whereas Brig. (r ) Muhammad Mushtaq, Basharat Jaspal, Fayyaz Warraich, Sultan Naeem Kiyani, Noorullah Siddiqui, Rana Muhammad Idrees, Sajid Bhatti, and Sardar Abdul Qadeer were also present at the stage.

The PAT Chairman said that the survival of Pakistan is in danger and the present corrupt and incompetent rulers are undermining its foundations due to their corruption and looting. He said that we would announce the next line of action after consulting the patriotic leadership of the opposition parties. He said that it is not the time to sit at home and crib but to take part in the struggle to save Pakistan. He said that the PAT wants to formulate its strategy in consultation with other opposition parties. He said that the plunderers of national resources will have to answer for their loot and the perpetrators of the murders of 14 innocent people will not be able to escape punishment. He said that ‘Qisas’ is our main demand.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that had his sons, Hassan and Hussain, been martyred on June 17, he had a right to forgive or not to forgive as father, adding that he has no right whatsoever to forgive the killers of 14 innocent people. He said that our poor workers rejected the lucrative offers of the millions of rupees. He said that justice for the martyrs is a debt on him as well as his party.

Talking about prevalence of corruption in the country in great detail, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that there is no effective system of accountability in the country. He said that had there been any system and institution responsible for accountability, the committee tasked with formulation of ToRs would have reached some conclusion by now. Talking about the supplementary budget of the Punjab government, he said that whatever the ruling family spends on its luxuries is paid out of the national exchequer. He said that the PIA was paid billions of rupees in the name of payment of arears whereas this money was expended by the ruling family. He said that no such luxury is possible in any other country. He said that the police officials who kill innocent people at the behest of rulers are medically treated in a neighbouring country. He said that PIA is nothing more than an airliner to carry the ruling family members, adding that the PIA planes are being mercilessly used to transport the hangers-on of the rulers.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the unique method adopted by the rulers is that they first make sure that a state-owned enterprise first becomes bankrupt and is then sold out to the cronies and front men on paltry sums. He said that the rulers should know that political power does not last forever. He said that it is like one’s shadow and as soon as the day comes to an end, the shadow also fades out. He said that the sun of their power is setting, adding that people’s problems such as load-shedding and price hike are increasing. He said that the farmers have been dealt a severe blow whereas the rulers remain busy in mega corruption in the name of mega projects. He said that the rulers will not be able to run away from accountability.

Sheikh Rashid said in his speech that he gave the slogan of ‘Go Nawaz Go’ during the sit-in and that he is giving a new slogan by the name of ‘Thieves, get rid of the country’. He said that the people will have to rise against the robbers. Criticizing Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman in the strongest possible words, he said that a country whose religious scholars are like Maulana Fazal, such countries are doomed. Referring to Asfand Yar Wali Khan, he said that only those can stand by a corrupt government whose hands are muddied with corruption. He thanked the PAT Chairman and other leaders for coming to Lal Haveli.

Sheikh Rashid said that the Lal Haveli is ready to render more sacrifices for long-lasting change in the country. He said that extreme oppression was committed in Model Town and what is even more oppressive is the non-provision of justice. He said that a country which can function without the PM for 45 days, what kind of polity or democracy it is? He said that the rulers take the people for a ride considering them to be nothing more than goofs. He said that we are determined to challenge kingship and civil dictatorship. He said that Sheikh Rashid will be with Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri because he talks about elimination of oppression and restoration of rights of people.

Red-carpet welcome was given to Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri on his arrival at the Lal Haveli. He was taken to the Lal Haveli in a caravan of hundreds of cars and motorbikes from the Islamabad Toll Plaza. The traders of Bhabhra Bazars threw rose petals on the car of Dr Qadri on his entrance in Rawalpindi. The Bazar was decorated with welcoming banners.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad took the PAT Chairman to all the floors of historic Lal Haveli. He told him that many renowned personalities have visited the Haveli in different times.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and Sheikh Rashid Ahmad along with the senior PAT leaders visited the hunger strike camp of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen. They termed the demands of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas fair and expressed their complete solidarity with the MWM. They assured him of their full support.

Raja Nasir Abbas thanked Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri for visiting the camp.