- PAT chief says forging grand political alliance against govt has never been on his agenda
- Announces holding of APC on Sunday to discuss Model Town killings
- Says his agenda is to bring change in current system, not just overthrowing Nawaz regime
- 13 parties confirm participation in APC
Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Thursday denied that he was going to form a grand political alliance against the government, saying this has never been on his agenda.
Addressing reporters after a meeting with leaders of likeminded parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), Qadri said, “We have never indicated making a grand or simple alliance, nor have we ever spoken about it.” He said that the overthrow of the ruling PML–Nawaz government is not his only agenda. “Our agenda is to bring change in the current system,” he stressed.
Qadri announced that he and his friends in likeminded parties had called an All Parties Conference (APC) on June 29 (Sunday) to discuss the killing of his party workers during the Model Town clashes with the police. PAT sources said the APC will evolve consensus on how to seek justice for those killed in the Model Town clashes.
Sources told Pakistan Today that 13 parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), have confirmed their participation in the APC. Contacts have also been made with leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but their participation is not confirmed as yet.
The PAT leadership and Chaudhrys of PML-Q are making efforts to involve PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the scheme of things, but there has been no breakthrough so far as Khan is not ready to become part of any grand alliance.