*PAT chief says sit-ins will now be staged across country and Islamabad sit-in will fetch ‘concrete results’
Participants of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) anti-government sit-in were seen packing their bags on the 48th day of the sit-in to head to their hometowns for Eidul Azha, as PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri announced Tuesday that sit-ins would now be staged across the country.
Addressing PAT supporters at the party’s sit-in venue, Qadri said that a time would come when sit-ins would be staged in every town, tehsil and district of Pakistan and he would persuade citizens to take to streets for their rights.
“The world will soon see how a revolution is brought about,” he said.
Warning the rulers to step down before such a development, Qadri said, “Has it ever happened in history that a case is registered against the sitting prime minister and other ministers?”
“The sit-ins have made the common men aware of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution,” Qadri said, adding that VIPs were now being thrown out of planes.
WITH NO END IN SIGHT, PROTESTERS HEAD HOME:
On the other hand, a majority of PAT supporters were seen heading to their respective hometowns on Tuesday.
“We are fed up with the situation and are now heading home,” said Yasir, a sound system operator.
A PAT supporter hailing from Pattoki, Mubeen Ahmed said, “I support positive change in the country but I want to celebrate Eid at my village,” adding that he had no idea that the sit-in would prolong to so many days.
“I have packed my luggage on the indication of a zonal leader that we can go to our hometowns for Eid,” said another PAT worker Muazzam Bukhari.
“Most of the party activists hailing from far-flung areas–were dumped on green belts along D-Chowk where they had to ensure heavy rains,” complained a senior PAT participant Ataullah Khan.
“Unhygienic conditions at the sit-in venue have spread various viral infections amongst the protesters,” complained a PAT protester, as he prepared to find a bus to take him back to his home in Lakki Marwat.