Model Town fallout is far from finished
We believe in parliamentary democracy but our rulers have used this parliamentary democracy to establish their dictatorship. The parliament is packed up with plunderers and most of our lawmakers do not qualify Article 62 and 63 of the constitution of Pakistan which were made according to the true injunctions of Islam
Khurram Nawaz Gandapur can undoubtedly be regarded as the political face of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) after Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri as Gandapur is often seen negotiating with other political parties of the opposition. He worked rigorously for the recently held National Consultative Conference called by PAT last month which was attended by all the opposition parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He was made the secretary general of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) — the religious network of PAT a few years ago by Tahir-ul-Qadri.
He started his career as a commissioned officer in Pakistan army and also won the ‘sword of honor’ during his stay in the Pakistan Military Academy. Gandapur left the army to pursue his individual career and served as army advisor for martial training to the Government of Oman from 1982 to 1993. Later on, he served as Deputy Secretary in the Senate (the Upper House of Pakistan’s parliament) from 1993 to 1997. Gandapur was the secretary of Senate’s standing committees of defence, foreign affairs and Kashmir affairs during his stay in the Upper House of parliament.
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has announced to launch a ‘Retribution (Qisas) Movement’ to avenge the killings of Model Town victims from the tragedy in June 2014 in which 14 people were killed and more than 100 got injured. Gandapur is approaching all the opposition parties in order to get their support in the protest movement of PAT.
DNA got an opportunity to sit with Gandapur to know the future line of action of his party.
Question: What are the main objectives of this ‘Qisas’ Movement?
Khurram Nawaz Gandapur: In the entire history of the country, all the previous movements were politically motivated and most of them were started to get some political mileage. The ‘Qisas’ movement will help the masses to get awareness about their rights and the lives of 14 innocent people killed in Model Town would not be wasted. The main objective of this movement is to educate people about their fundamental rights.
This movement is motivated by the teachings of Islam as the Quran emphasises ‘Qisas’ by saying that ‘an eye for an eye’. As many as 14 people were killed in Model Town in broad daylight and we want all the culprits to be hanged; whosoever is responsible for that brutality of Punjab Police.
Q: The Model Town tragedy happened two years ago. Why did you plan to launch the ‘Qisas’ movement after two years? Do you have any sort of connection with the agitation movement of Imran Khan?
KNG: Pakistan Awami Tehreek really wants Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to join its movement and we are in continuous contact with the leadership of PTI. I have talked to Jehangir Khan Tareen and other leaders of the opposition parties to join us as this will exert more pressure on the ‘cruel and corrupt’ rulers of the country.
It is a misconception that PAT has just now launched its movement to take revenge of Model Town killings as we have staged a 70-day long sit-in in Islamabad but now this movement will build momentum as other parties will also be on the streets. The issue of Panama Papers will be the main focus of Imran Khan’s movement and the second agenda of our movement is also thorough investigation of Panama Papers as we want accountability across the board.
Q: Tahir-ul-Qadri declared Imran Khan as his ‘political cousin’ during the last sit-in. Are they still ‘political cousins’?
KNG: Yes, they are still ‘political cousins’ and these political cousins are going to be married soon. Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed of Awami Muslim League has been given a task to arrange a marriage between these political cousins. Sheikh Rasheed is heading a joint action committee to bring all the opposition parties on one platform and representatives of all the parties are part of this committee.
Q: Why doesn’t PAT take part in the electoral system of the country? Do you believe in parliamentary democracy?
KNG: Yes, we believe in parliamentary democracy but our rulers have used this parliamentary democracy to establish their dictatorship. The parliament is packed up with plunderers and most of our lawmakers do not qualify Article 62 and 63 of the constitution of Pakistan which were made according to the true injunctions of Islam. One ruler after the other has misused the constitution and 22 amendments were introduced in the short span of 43 years according to the wishes of rulers. The state has failed to provide basic facilities to its citizens including health and education. We’ll not take part in the electoral process until the entire system is overhauled. Our religion teaches us that you are not supposed to obey your ruler if he is dishonest and the moral and financial corruption of our rulers is now evident after the Panama Leaks. We have borrowed this system of parliamentary democracy from the United Kingdom (UK) but we refused to implement it in letter and spirit. David Cameron, the former prime minister of UK, was grilled by the parliament and he had to face harsh questions by the lawmakers because the name of his father surfaced in the Panama Leaks.
Q: What does PAT think regarding the Panama Leaks and the offshore companies of Nawaz Sharif’s family?
KNG: The Panama Papers have exposed our rulers and they do not have moral authority anymore to hold the public office. The statements of the family members of Nawaz Sharif do not match with each other and it shows their malafide intentions to invest in offshore companies. A thorough and rigorous investigation is required to bring truth in front of the nation as financial corruption is a monster that has been haunting this country for decades. We are coordinating with other opposition parties and it is highly likely that both ‘Qisas’ and ‘Accountability’ movements will go parallel in the coming days.
Q: What will be the strategy of PAT in this ‘Qisas’ Movement? Are you planning to hold another marathon sit-in?
KNG: To hold a sit-in is not an easy task as a huge responsibility lies with the party when you are on roads with thousands of people including females and children. So, we are not considering any sit-in in the near future but the option of sit-in and long march cannot be ruled out at the later stage. According to the schedule of phase-I, there will be protest marches in nine cities on August 16. These marches will be held in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, DG Khan, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sakhar, Larkana and Chiniot. Furthermore, sit-ins will be staged in Peshawar, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Jehlum, Okara and Toba Tek Singh on August 20. There will be protests in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujrat, Abbotabad and Bhakkar on August 27. Islamabad will be the last venue of first phase of protest when the party will stage a sit-in in the federal capital on August 30. The second phase of protest will be announced by Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri on August 30 in Islamabad.
Q: What are your reservations in the probe of Model Town tragedy?
KNG: The Punjab government affected the judicial probe of Model Town tragedy as the rulers did not want truth to come in front of the masses and that’s why they did not release the findings of Justice Baqir Najfi’s report over the incident. Some police officials involved in the Model Town killings approached me as they wanted to be approvers in the case on a condition that they would be ensured protection by the chief of army staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif. They do not disclose the real story because of the apparent fear of goons of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.
Q: You have served in the Pakistan army and also in the Senate’s standing committee of defence. What is your stance on the retirement of COAS?
KNG: One of my course mates Lt General Masood Aslam was allowed to continue as the corps commander Peshawar even after reaching the age of superannuation because the Swat operation was in full swing at that time and he was monitoring the operation. General Kayani was also given extension because of the military operation in restive parts of the country. So, it is in the interest of the country if General Raheel Sharif is given another term, or at least till the successful culmination of Operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’.
Q: What do you think about the atrocities of Indian forces on Kashmiri people as you have also served as the secretary of Senate’s standing committee on Kashmir Affairs?
KNG: The Indian government is committing state terrorism in Kashmir but unfortunately the rulers of Pakistan have forgotten the Kashmiri people because of their personal ties with Narendra Modi and India. How can any patriotic Pakistani name his residence after the name of a village located in India? Our rulers named their ‘Jati Umra’ residence after a village that is located in India.
The Nawaz Sharif government cannot present the case of Kashmir even in the United Nations because they have committed the same atrocity here in Pakistan when they fired live bullets at Model Town killing 14 innocent people resultantly. The viral videos of Model Town incident are a slap on the face of rulers and the foreign media will ask hundreds of questions if they ever dare to present the case of Kashmir on any foreign front.