Qadri realises: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

After failing twice to topple elected governments in Pakistan, Canada-based firebrand cleric Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced to make his Pakistan Awami Tehreek an active political party and contest future elections “to bring revolution in the country”.

Addressing his followers at the party’s sit-in venue on Thursday, Qadri said that he will go to all four provinces to convince people to join the movement for ‘revolution’.

“We will field candidates in both general and local bodies’ elections,” Dr Qadri said, vowing to restore the sanctity of Pakistan’s legislature.

He announced that PAT would hold public gatherings in Faisalabad on October 12 and in Lahore on October 19.

“PAT will be the biggest revolutionary political party of Pakistan to contest polls,” said Qadri, adding that PAT would implement its reform agenda after “winning the elections”.

Announcing PAT’s manifesto, Qadri said that every Pakistani will get food, cloth, shelter, education, employment and justice. “Powers will trickle down to grass-roots and women will enjoy a better status in society,” he said.

Qadri said that he will announce the schedule of later public gatherings at the Lahore rally.