IFTIKHAR ALAM & FAIZAN ALI WARRAICH

LAHORE - Declaring PML-N leadership responsible for the Model Town massacre, Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri yesterday said he doesn’t see Sharifs rule surviving beyond August this year.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the judicial system of the country at a huge sit-in on The Mall, he sought intervention of army chief and demanded a trial in military courts.

“Only General Raheel can provide us the justice,” he told the gathering which was also attended by a number of leaders from opposition and religious parities and representatives of minorities.

He announced putting off their protest until after Eid ‘to save people from hardships in Ramazan’, adding that his party is so organised that they can gather again on a week’s notice.

Specifically naming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and CM Shehbaz, he said they are responsible for the gory incident in which 14 PAT supporters were killed and dozens injured in police firing.

“We have only one demand; we demand Qisas” (life for a life) and nothing less than that as it was exactly according to Quranic commandments.

Qadri said the oppressors tried to buy the conscience of heirs of Model Town martyrs, but they failed.

Presenting a charge-sheet against the Sharif family, he said the rulers established their personal relations with the ruling families of other countries at the cost to state-to-state relations, alienating the country in the region.

The borders of the country were never as much unsafe as they are now, PAT chief said, adding the situation at the Pak-Afghan border turned never so tense in the entire history of the country.

“The rulers are in living in self-imposed exile,” Qadri said, alleging that their children are running state affairs illegally.

Pakistan Army is providing security for the game-changer CPEC and that’s why this project is going ahead successfully. “We want to see Pakistan peaceful and prosperous,” he added.

“We want end to extremism, sectarianism and terrorism. We want peace and respectful life for all the people of the country irrespective of their caste, colour and creed.”

He thanked leaders of opposition parties for showing solidarity and also thanked media for showing the real picture to the masses.

Many important opposition leaders, including those from Jamaat Islami and Sunni Ittehad Council, and representatives of minority communities also attended the sit-in to express solidarity with PAT.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Sheikh Rashid of AML; Mian Manzoor Watoo and Sardar Latif Khosa of PPP; Ch Sarwar and Saloni Bokhari of PTI; Kamil Ali Aga and Raja Basharat of PML-Q; Senator Attique of MQM; Allama Ahmad Iqbal of MWM and J Salik.

Independent observers said around 35,000 supporters, around 40 percent of them women and children, attended the protest while PAT claimed there were more than 100,000 people at the sit-in.

People continued arriving at the venue till late at night. They were fully charged and shouting slogans and dancing to the tune of party and national songs.

Holding party flags, placards and banners inscribed with slogs like ‘Go-Nawaz-Go’, ‘Blood of Model Town Martyrs will bring Change’ and ‘Tahirul Qadri will change the corrupt system’, the participants vowed to avenge the killings of PAT workers.

PAT leaders and workers were actively posting updates about the sit-in on social media while the party had arranged a simultaneous sit-in in Karachi at Numaish Churangi.

“We are ready to sacrifice our lives to bring revolution in the country. We want justice for Model Town victims and will obey our leader’s (Dr Qadri) orders for next move,” said a charged female worker.

The sit-in was well-organised and hundreds of volunteers were guiding the protesters. Police adopted strict security measures while PAT also had its own security arrangements in and around the venue.

The central stage was set up near Alflah Building in Faisal Chowk and chairs and mats were place up to the Regal Chowk. Service roads of The Mall were also used for the sit-in and had been duly covered with tents. TV screens were installed for the participants who could not get a direct view of the main stage.