D-Chowk: PAT Chief Tahirul Qadri calls it a day
22 October, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday announced to temporarily suspend the sit-in keeping in view the sanctity of Muharram.
The decision was reached after the PAT chief held a meeting with his ally parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League, Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen.
Addressing the participants of sit-in, the Sufi cleric said that revolution was a journey and it came in phases. He said the PAT workers achieved first phase by "breaking the siege".
"We have reached next phase so now participants of sit-in at federal capital should pack up their luggage and go home. Now two-day sit-ins will be held in all major cities," he announced.
Qadri said decision to temporarily suspend the sit-in was taken in the wake of the holy month and future strategy and outline of further program was to resume the protest after Muharram.
He said that revolution was like water, which continuously flowed under the earth. "Neither the government nor we backtracked from our stands," Qadri said.
Rebuffing the news about a deal with the government to end the sit-in, the PAT chief said it was baseless and nothing more. "No deal so far took place as it cannot be done," Qadri said. "We will not backtrack from our stand and will not sell the blood of 14 martyrs and 90 injured of the revolution. The government could not prove money laundering against me."
Qadri said, "Our workers had faced state violence. Criminal cases were registered against them and they faced the miseries. I congratulate the participants of revolution sit-in for braving bullets and prisons."
About getting funds from foreign agencies, the Sufi scholar said that he should be hanged if the allegations were proved. He accused that various clerics and politicians of the country were getting foreign funds.
Qadri claimed that he had asked former dictator General (r) Ziaul Haq to take measures to stop politicians and clerics from getting foreign funds.
Defending his decision to suspend the sit-in, the PAT chief said, "If anybody thinks that we are done with our revolutionary movement, they are seriously mistaken. This revolution is not just a campaign, it's the unstoppable tide of truth that would sweep away all the centres of lie."
Qadri announced that he would expand his protests to every "nook and corner of the country".
Qadri said, "The regime of suppression is near its horrible end. People hate the rulers to the core and want them thrown out of power. That is going to happen very soon."
The PAT head reiterated that the blood of the victims would not go in vain.
"An eye for an eye. Death sentence be awarded to the culprits who spilled innocent blood and these criminals be sent to gallows. We will not spare them until they meet their final end," he concluded.
He said that PAT has reservations over members, comprising Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of the government, from day one, which have not been removed so far.
He said that transparent investigation of Model Town tragedy could not be carried out under the Punjab government and suggested Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to step down from his position until the completion of investigation.
Qadri condemned the government for putting curbs on media. He said the PML-N has a history of exhibiting intolerance to media freedom.
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