Qadri claims 8 PAT workers killed, 1,000 wounded

LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri on Saturday claimed that at least eight of his workers have been killed in “straight firing” from the police, over a 1,000 wounded with several among them medically critical, besides 20,000 detained by Punjab Police. However, his claims could not be confirmed.

Addressing journalists in Lahore, Qadri announced that his party and supporters would be observing Youm-e-Shuhada today (Sunday) despite state repression and would be holding sit-ins across the country. He has issued fresh instruction to his workers and supporters to observe Youm-e-Shuhada in their own native places instead of coming to Lahore.

Qadri alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered “direct firing” at the Youm-e-Shuhada participants arriving from other cities. He further alleged that the “blood thirsty” Punjab administration was not allowing even the hospitals to provide medical aids to the wounded PAT workers. Qadri said the rulers were willing to harm the country to any degree in order to safeguard their own government. He alleged that the government had “crossed the limits of tyranny” and the people were on the receiving end.