Qadri says ‘Justice for Zainab’ now part of PAT’s protest movement

• Party’s movement to start from Mall Road on Jan 17

• Dr Qadri may support Pir Sialvi’s long march if he approaches PAT

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has announced that a protest demonstration would be held by all the parties of the opposition at Lahore’s Mall Road on January 17 over the Model Town massacre, in which 14 people were killed by the brutal firing of the Punjab police.

He announced his plan of protest after chairing a meeting of the action committee that has the representation of almost all the major opposition parties, and it was unanimously decided in the meeting that the protest movement would be demanding the resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Moreover, it was also decided in the meeting that the protest movement would also seek justice for Zainab, who was murdered in Kasur after being raped the other day.

Besides Dr Qadri, PAT Secretary-General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Sheikh Rasheed, Allama Nasir Sherazi and Shoaib Siddiqui were present in the meeting of action committee here at PAT’s secretariat.

After chairing the meeting, Dr Qadri said, “I am very hopeful that our protest on January 17 would be attended by the main leadership of the opposition parties, and it would be the last round of our protest movement to get justice for Model Town victims.”

He further added that their protest would be staged within the parameters of the constitution and democracy, and also warned the Punjab government not to use the force against their peaceful protest; otherwise, it might be detrimental for the government.

Meanwhile, Dr Qadri also led a rally under the banner of ‘Justice for Zainab’ on Thursday, demanding that the culprits of her murder be booked immediately. He was of the view that the ‘Justice for Zainab’ has now become a part of PAT’s movement and it will be continued till the arrest of her killers.

Earlier on Wednesday, he tweeted: “Just attended the janaza of the innocent child Zainab in Kasur. I have no word to describe this barbarity and the scene was heart-wrenching. May Allah Almighty save Pakistan from these rulers.”

Just attended the janaza of the innocent child zainab in Kasur. I have no word to describe this barbarity and the scene was heart wrenching. May Allah Almighty save Pakistan from these rulers.#JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/RLKkR7sn6t

— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) January 10, 2018

It is crucial to mention here that the deadline of January 7 was given by the Multi-Party Conference (MPC), which was attended by 40 religious and political parties held on December 30 at the headquarters of PAT, for the resignations of Rana Sanaullah and Shehbaz Sharif. However, both the powerful personalities of Punjab didn’t pay any heed to the demands of the MPC, and it has now been decided that the first protest demonstration would be held in Lahore on January 17.

It is also worth mentioning here that religious scholar and custodian of Sial Sharif shrine Pir Hameed-ud-Din Sialvi has also threatened to lead a long march from the shrine of Data Sahib in Lahore on January 13, if Sanaullah does not resign by then over his ‘controversial’ remarks about Ahmadis. Dr Qadri has also said that they might support the long march of Pir Sialvi if he approaches PAT.

For past few days, PAT chief, in order to get support for his protest movement, has started meeting political leaders of the opposition parties in the aftermath of the Baqir Najafi report. On top of that, it is highly likely that, in the coming elections, he might also jump once again in the parliamentary politics.