Qadri doesn’t just want Sharifs’ resignations… he wants to see them hanged!

• PAT chief hails LHC’s decision to maintain orders of booking Sharif brothers in Model Town case
• Accuses Punjab govt of hiding JIT report for 17 days, says issue will not be resolved by govt’s resignation but with ‘hanging of the Sharifs’

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri Tuesday lauded the Lahore High Court (LHC)’s decision to maintain a session court’s ruling to book Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif over the Model Town tragedy, saying that now the issue will not be simply resolved with Sharif brothers’ resignations but through their “hangings”.

Addressing the participants of “Inqilab March” in front of Parliament House, Qadri accused the Punjab government of keeping the joint investigation team’s report in hiding for 17 days – an act which according to him proves that the provincial government is “guilty” of killing 14 PAT workers in Model Town on June 17.

“Such a big incident could not have taken place without the consent of Sharif brothers. They have been hiding the JIT report. No one can now save the government. The revolution is near. Things will now go on until the rulers are hanged,” Qadri said, urging his supporters to get out of their houses and join the protest march.

The PAT chief accused Shahbaz Sharif of “lying to the people” that he ordered disengaging police from Model Town, adding that this point was added by the lawyers in the statement which was submitted to the tribunal.

Qadri alleged that the operation was carried out on directions of Punjab CM and was being constantly monitored. He said that it was impossible for the police to bypass the CM’s orders.

“Few hundred people make speeches in the Parliament saying there is threat to democracy. Such democracy is damned. Sharif brothers! You cannot be spared now! You will be hanged,” the Canada-based cleric kept reiterating, demanding that Nawaz and Shahbaz must resign and present themselves for accountability.

“Is there anyone who will listen to the orphans of the Model Town martyrs? I have always said that the martyrs have won, while the murderers have lost. It is better to die of bullet shots by the ruling class than by hunger.”

Moreover, Qadri also questioned the capacity of Principal Secretary Tauqeer Shah for presiding over the meeting on June 16 which decided the “legality” of barriers outside MQI Secretariat. “Why is this report not being published?” he exclaimed.

Lauding the role of electronic media for bringing out the details of the “hidden” investigation report, Qadri demanded the authorities to make the tribunal’s finding public.