LAHORE: In an allusion to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri’s imminent sit-in against the government over Model Town killings, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz on Monday said, “The person who has allegiance to foreign powers has become the leader of this nation’s so-called leaders.”
The daughter of ousted prime minister Nawaz Shairf, Maryam questioned Qadri’s loyalty while pointing out his dual nationality on Twitter.
Maryam’s statements have come after Qadri announced a countrywide protest starting January 17. The announcement came after the deadline given by the PAT chief for resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah ended on January 7.
“The social and political powers of Nawaz Sharif have tied all the opponents to the post of Qadri,” she said while referring to the parties that have joined the PAT in its movement against the Punjab government.
Earlier in the day, Qadri told journalists that the PAT [and APC] will not demand the resignations now, but would instead “take” them. On December 30, the PAT-led All Parties Conference (APC) called for the resignations of Shehbaz, Sanaullah and others over the Model Town incident.
Qadri’s quest for justice took a step further when the Punjab government following orders of the Lahore High Court released the Justice Baqir Najafi commission’s Model Town report on December 5, 2017.
At least 14 people were killed and over 100 injured during an ‘anti-encroachment operation’ by Punjab police outside Idara Minhaj-ul-Quran in Model Town, Lahore, on June 17, 2014.