PAT workers stage sit-in outside Civil Secretariat

PAT leaders, workers and the family members of the martyrs of Model Town staged a sit-in in front of the Civil Secretariat Lahore over the Home Secretary’s refusal to hand over the Najfi Judicial Commission report following the LHC judgment. They demanded the handing over of the report in line with the clear judgment of the LHC. Women and children were also part of the sit-in.

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur along with the team of lawyers met Special Secretary Home Ahmad Raza Sarwar in his office and gave him the certified copy of the judgment. The Special Secretary received the copy of the judgment but refused to hand over the report of the judicial commission by saying that the Home Secretary is not in his office. Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that even if Home Secretary is not in his office, his office is working and since it is the order of the High Court, it should be implemented forthwith without ifs and buts. However, the office of Home Secretary refused to share the copy of the report.

The PAT workers including women and children continued to stage sit-in outside the Civil Secretariat throughout the day and demanded release of the Najfi Commission report. They also offered Juma prayer on the road.

At 4 pm, the PAT leaders along with their lawyers talked to media. They said that the Sharif brothers are our accused and now the Home Secretary has made himself a party by refusing to hand over the report. They said that we would file contempt of court against him. They said that it is a tragedy that the effects of lawlessness of the Sharifs have permeated the state machinery. The educated bureaucrats should ponder over the matter with dispassionate and cool mind and should not bulldoze the court orders. They said that it is the court order and an evil practice has been adopted by not accepting the order. They said that after the decision by the LHC, it is now responsibility of the whole Punjab government. They said that we have informed Chief Secretary Punjab in writing about the refusal of the Home Secretary to abide by the court order.

The participants of the sit-in braved hot, humid and stuffy weather the whole day under open skies. They vowed to vacate the sit-in only after they are able to get report. They also chanted slogans against the government.

Later on, PAT Core Committee held an emergency meeting in which it was decided that the contempt of court petition will be filed in LHC and the next strategy will be decided on Monday.

The daughter and mother of Tanzila Amjad Shaheed also attended the sit-in. The mother of the Shaheed kept weeping by holding the picture of her daughter close to her heart. This brought tears in the eyes of other participants.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that the Sharif brothers know the workers of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri very well. They know that they will not run away under any circumstance. He said that we are speaking to them through legal means, adding that these elements are creating a hurdle in the way of justice but added in the same breath that we know how to overcome such hurdles.

Other PAT leaders also spoke to the sit-in participants.