Asif Zardari and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri demand Shehbaz Sharif’s resignation

While addressing the joint press conference at the PAT central secretariat on December 7, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and PPP Co-chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari said that Justice Najafi Commission report held the Punjab Chief Minister responsible for Model Town tragedy and he should immediately tender his resignation in the wake of publication of the report. Both leaders strongly condemned the Trump Administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as new capital of Israel and demanded a review of the decision. They said that peace process has been dealt a severe blow, adding that the decision violates the UN resolutions most glaringly.

PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari arrived at the central secretariat of PAT. He was accompanied by senior PPP leaders Sayyid Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Qayyum Soomro, Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and Naveed Chaudhry. PAT Chairman received the guests along with the senior leaders of the party on their arrival at the secretariat.

Addressing the Punjab Chief Minister, Asif Ali Zardari said that there is no justification for Shehbaz Sharif to continue in office after he has been found responsible for Model Town massacre. He said that someone who is involved in the killings of innocent people cannot be accepted as a Chief Minister. He said that he is left with no option but to resign.

Asif Zardar said that we fully stand by PAT in its quest for justice for the families of martyrs of Model Town and whatever order Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri gives, we will comply with it. He said that actually 100 people lost their life, stating that in addition to 14 deaths, those who have been rendered incapacitated and injured for life, and unable to live like a normal human being, also represent a kind of social death. He said that we came to Model Town to express our solidarity with Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri on the tragedy. We will not only give our help but also receive help from him as well.

The former President strongly condemned the decision to relocate the US embassy to Jerusalem, granting it a status of new capital of Israel. He recalled that at the time of the meetings of heads of the Muslim countries in Lahore, former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had stated that the foundation of Palestine’s cause had been laid that day. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and he will visit the world’s capitals to convince the leaders not to play with fire and let rationality prevail.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto would also visit his residence and central secretariat of PAT. He strongly condemned the American Administration’s decision of granting recognition to Jerusalem as capital of Israel. He said that this single decision of Trump has dealt a blow to the peace process in the Middle East. He said that Palestinian issue is not confined to Muslims alone. Rather it is a global issue. He said that if the decision was not reversed, it will pave the way for more difficulties and complications in the Middle East. He said that the US has isolated itself from the rest of the world. He said that the whole global community including heads of the European states and Pope have expressed their disapproval of Trump’s decision. He said that the terrorists have been given a tool to spread their message of hatred.

Talking about Justice Baqar Najafi report, the PAT leader said that the report is complete in all respects and free from all ambiguities. He said that the report rejected the Punjab government’s stance of removal of barricades and it has clearly been written that the purpose of the police operation was not removal of the barriers but to stop him from coming to Pakistan to lead a democratic struggle. He said that the meeting on June 16, 2014 was attended by the whole Punjab government. He said that Shehbaz Sharif submitted a fake affidavit and the report said this manifestly that no order of disengagement to the police was ever given. He said that Rana Sanaullah supervised the whole operation, adding that the report stated crystal clearly that the police did exactly what it was tasked to do and the order was both implicit as well as explicit.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that appointment of new IG Punjab on the day of tragedy is proof of the fact that Nawaz Sharif is also involved in the planning of the massacre. He said that the report also mentioned that the armed contingent of police sent for the operation in the name of removal of barrier was much more than demanded by the situation and in comparison to the unarmed workers and there was no compatibility between both.

The PAT leader said that PPP always extended unqualified and unstinted support on the issue of Model Town. From burying the martyrs to the publication of the report, the PPP leaders stood by us.

Meanwhile PTI Chairman Imran Khan telephoned PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and assured of his party’s complete support on the issue of justice for the martyrs of Model Town. He said that we would give complete support to whatever action Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri takes in search of justice. Both leaders also agreed to hold a meeting soon.