LAHORE – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri demanded on Sunday the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT), along with the lines of the one formed to probe the Panama Papers case, to investigate the Model Town incident.
“We want a Panama-like JIT to investigate the case as the previous probe bodies did not do a complete job,” he demanded.
Qadri was speaking to the media after a meeting with Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed, who called on him at his Model Town residence.
“Instead of releasing the report as ordered by Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Mazhar Naqvi, the government appealed the decision which was turned down by a full bench which resulted in the government finally releasing the report last week.” “Every page of the report says they conspired to kill PAT workers,” Qadri said.
The PAT leader alleged that the government is keeping several people outside the country so they do not become approvers against it.
The PAT chief said the report of Justice Baqar Najafi declared Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah killers, adding that, “this is why they hid the report for three years.”
Qadri said that instead of releasing the report as ordered by Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Mazhar Naqvi, the government appealed the decision.
That decision was later turned down by a full bench which resulted in the government finally releasing the report last week.
“Every page of the report says they conspired to kill PAT workers,” claimed Qadri.
The PAT leader alleged that the government is keeping several people outside the country so they do not become approvers against it.
Reiterating his demand for Shehbaz and Sanaullah’s resignation and submission to police for investigation, Qadri said, “If they do not step down in peace, we will kick them out of power without breaking the law.”
Talking to the media, Sheikh Rasheed said Qadri’s fight against tyranny has been won, though it would complete with the resignation of the Punjab chief minister.
“We are with Qadri,” said Rasheed, adding that the Sharifs will be out of office before March 30.
Later in the day, PAT chief Qadri held a press conference with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders Chaudhry Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi.
Qadri reiterated the demand for the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
“We always fought together for the sake of justice,” said Qadri while referring to the PML-Q leaders.
Joint Opposition Alliance:
On the other hand, a number of political parties have joined hands with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), and its chief Allama Tahirul Qadri has finalised formation of a ‘Joint Opposition Alliance’ to launch a ‘decisive’ movement against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
Highly credible sources disclosed that the formation of the alliance will formally be announced soon.
The key demands of the alliance will include immediate dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies, instant arrest and trial of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and others allegedly involved in the Model Town tragedy. The incident in 2014 left 14 dead and many injured at the hands of the Punjab police, all members of the PAT.
The alliance is likely to demand the establishment of an interim government in consultation with the opposition parties, leading to early elections in the country.
According to sources, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Awami Muslim League (AML) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) have agreed to join the alliance.
Meanwhile, the Qadri-led PAT is also in touch with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) among other parties in this regard.
