LAHORE-
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday declined an offer by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar to discuss his demands with the government, a private news channel reported.
According to details, Sarwar contacted Qadri on phone in order to reach an understanding on behalf of the government and tried to convince the PAT chief to cancel his rally.
Qadri, however, declined Sarwar’s offer and vowed to hold his anti-government ‘revolution march’ “at all costs”.
Qadri has announced a Martyrs’ Day on August 10 in remembrance of more than a dozen PAT workers who were killed in the Model Town clash in June. The ‘Revolution March’ date is yet to be finalised.
Also on Tuesday, during a media address the PAT chief alleged that the government was attempting to sabotage the ‘Martyrs’ Day rally’ on August 10 by harrassing the transporters.
In a joint conference with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) , Qadri said that route permits were being taken away from transporters and drivers to derail Martyr’s Day rally.
“Authorities are forcefully cancelling our bookings, licenses of drivers are also being cancelled as part of a crackdown,” said the PAT chief.
He added that the rally’s sole intent is to pay tribute to over a dozen Model Town Lahore tragedy victims who lost their lives in clashes with the police on June 16 and requested the participants to bring along prayer mats for recitation of the Holy Quran.
The PAT chief added that after the rally the party would announce the plans for the ‘Revolution March’.
He slammed the present rulers for alleging him of terrorism while adding that after August 10, FIRs on such actions would be filed against the government and the masses would hold it accountable.
He also reiterated his prediction that the government would be ousted before the end of August.