Sharif ‘dynasty’ hurdle to justice, says Qadri at APC

• JI SAYS MODEL TOWN INCIDENT IS LIVING EXAMPLE OF ‘STATE TERRORISM’

• ‘PPP WILL NOT COME TO PML-N’S RESCUE’

• ‘MODEL TOWN KILLINGS CAME TO HAUNT SHARIF FAMILY IN PANAMA CASE’

LAHORE: Delegations of major political parties on Saturday gathered at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat to attend the All Parties Conference (APC) led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri over the Model Town incident enquiry report.

The PAT chief told media as he commenced the convention, “The Model Town incident and Nawaz Sharif’s rallying cry of ‘mujhe kyun nikala’ will be discussed in today’s APC.”

Addressing the press, Qadri welcomed the parties who had joined him, claiming that representatives of more than 40 were in attendance.

“The political parties gathered here today have different ideologies and agendas, but have been brought together today on a single point,” he said, referring to the Model Town incident which took place in 2014.

“The blood of the innocent people killed in the incident is what unites us today,” he added.

“Because of their blood, you [Nawaz Sharif] were held accountable in Panama case,” said Qadri.

“You are facing your fate today because of the corruption you did during your entire life,” Qadri said while criticising Nawaz Sharif.

“Nawaz Sharif started corruption in the history of Pakistan,” said Qadri.

He also accused ousted premier Nawaz Sharif and his family of “investing in politics” using bribery as a mean to buy loyalty and establishing a “political dynasty” that was being dominated by one man.

“You bought your MPAs and MNAs by sending them briefcases full of money. Can you — Nawaz and Shahbaz — deny doing that? Is this your democracy?” he asked as he lashed out at the family.

“I have seen Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s time. I have never been a part of PPP, and yet I can say that political horsetrading never existed in his time,” Qadri said.

Speaking about the Model Town incident, Qadri said, “You (the Sharifs) ordered the police to open fire on people and then told us to go to courts to get justice? Till you are in power, there can be no justice.”

“Your character has been revealed in the Panama Papers case and now you are planning to run away and leave Pakistan, which is why you are seeking help from foreign powers,” Qadri said while accusing the Sharifs of visiting Saudi Arabia to enlist the help of ‘old friends’ to get them out of the current situation.

“However, they can not save you now, nothing can save you now,” he added.

“You accuse these political parties that have gathered here today to be using each other’s support to forward each other’s agenda. My question is, who is using Saudi Arabia’s support to forward their own agenda, based on their own gains?” the PAT chief asked.

“Your past is catching up with you and are getting what you deserve,” he said.

The PAT chief also reiterated that political parties in the country stand with the army, judiciary and other state institutions.

Concluding his address, Qadri told the media that the parties would now discuss their future course of action in-camera, after which the media would be briefed about the developments.

‘APC IS NOT ABOUT ELECTION ALLIANCE’:

Speaking to media before the APC, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, “PTI is very clear about the single point APC agenda to provide justice to the families of the Model Town massacre victims. Today’s conference is not about any sort of election alliance,” he clarified.

‘PPP WILL NOT COME TO GOVT’S RESCUE’:

Similarly, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leaders, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Senator Rehman Malik, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa and Mian Manzoor Watto held a meeting at the latter’s residence in Model Town. Main Manzoor Watto told the media that PPP is participating in the APC to ensure justice for the families of the Model Town victims. As per PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s direction, he said, the party will support the cause to provide justice for the families of the Model Town carnage victims.

PPP Central Punjab President Kaira clarified that his party is not trying to send the ruling government in packing and garnering support before the general elections.

“But if the government fails owing to its own mistakes the PPP will not come to its rescue,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Liaqat Baloch said his party supports PAT because Model Town incident “is a living example of state terrorism”.

‘CULPRITS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE’:

Speaking to the press, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal said that those identified as culprits in the Model Town report should be brought to justice.

He said that he is participating in the conference to express solidarity with the victims’ families. “Innocent people were sprayed with bullets in Model Town,” he lamented.

MODEL TOWN REPORT:

On June 17, 2014, an ‘anti-encroachment operation’ by the Punjab Police outside Idara Minhajul Quran in Lahore’s Model Town, claimed lives of at least 14 people and left over 100 others injured.

The report of the Model Town incident was made public on December 5 by the Punjab government, on Lahore High Court’s orders.

It was mentioned in the enquiry report that police tried to cover up the facts regarding who gave orders to open fire on protesters. It added that no legal opinion was taken from the Punjab advocate general before the start of the ‘operation’.

After the report was made public, Qadri demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah should resign for their alleged role in the 2014 Model Town tragedy, while ousted premier Nawaz Sharif should stand trial for the incident which left 14 people dead.

PPP and PTI have offered full support to Qadri on the matter.