Attended by 15,000 office bearers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek from across the country, the all-important meeting of General Council of PAT took place in Township on February 3, 2013. The meeting was presided over by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. Newly elected President of PAT Dr Raheeq Abbasi, MQI’s Secretary General Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz, Amir-e-Tehreek Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani and central and provincial office holders of PAT were also present on the occasion.

The proceedings of General Council got underway with the recitation from the Holy Quran followed by Naat at 11:30 a.m. Amir-e-Punjab Ahmad Nawaz Anjum presented welcome address. He congratulated the participants of the meeting on successful Long March. He said that the March helped project soft image of Pakistan in the world. He said that Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri promised to the world that the Long March would be peaceful. He fulfilled his promise as not even a single glass broke down and marchers were incarnation of peace, steadfastness and courage in the face of heavy odds. He said that the Long March represented the aspirations of people of Pakistan, adding that the struggle of change which began with the Long March would reach its destination.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri delivered his keynote address to the participants of the meeting. The people listened to the address of Dr Qadri under the open skies despite severe cold and rainy weather. They chanted passionate slogans which warmed up the atmosphere. On the question of whether PAT should take part in elections or not, the 15,000 office holders of PAT handed over the power to Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri to take decision in this regard.

Addressing the participants, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the Long March was a seminal point of revolution. He said that the fight against looters and plunderers was not over after the Long March, adding that it had just started. He said that the ruling elite was busy in protecting their corruption at the time of Long March in the federal capital, while he was waging a struggle for restoration of people’s rights. He said that he saved Constitution and democracy on January 17, adding had he not taken immediate decision, the martial would have been imposed in the country.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that time to save country was now. He further held that he would undertake even 100 Long March if such a need arose. He made it clear that elections were the only way forward to save the country but electoral reforms were a must before elections could be held. He said that elections without reforms would end up returning the same crop of so-called looters with even graver consequences for the country’s economy and integrity. He promised that we would not let it happen. He said that he would continue to fight for the rights of the youth, women widows, mothers, sons and sisters. He said that it was every Pakistani’s responsibility to get Constitutional provisions implemented. He said that Articles 62 and 63 had created fear in the ranks of privileged elite. He said that we wanted a democracy in which the country’s resources could be spent on the people’s welfare and did not go into the pockets of MNAs, MPAs and ministers in the name of development funds.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that PAT would put the country on trajectory of sustainable socio-economic development by getting the charter of reforms implemented. He said that he wanted elections on time and would continue to fight for real democracy in the country till the last breath of his life. He said that every segment of society was politically aware now. He said that every city of Pakistan would witness an Islamabad-like Long March if the people’s demands were not met.

Answering various questions of journalists after his speech, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that PAT was soon going to move a petition in the Supreme Court regarding reformation and reconstitution of Election Commission. He said that he would argue the case himself in the honourable Court. Responding to a question, he said that all plunderers suffered from Qadri-phobia after five-day Long March. He said that he would undertake countrywide visits in which the looters and plunderers would flee the country.

Speaking on the occasion, newly elected President of PAT Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that peaceful Long March was manifestation of the fact that we were peaceful people. He said that we would fight for people’s rights and democracy through peaceful and democratic means. He said that PAT was representing the aspirations of the people. He said that we would take all decisions with the input of the masses.