PAT announces countrywide protests on Model Town tragedy

Dated: 13 January 2015

Pakistan Awami Tehreek has again announced countrywide demonstrations to protest lack of justice in the Model Town case. The first of these demonstrations will be held on January 17 in Lahore. PAT also decided to launch a signature movement against former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Punjab, Dr Tauqir Shah, on his appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador in World Trade Organization. This movement will formally be launched from the central secretariat of the party on January 14. It was also decided to enclose the petition carrying signatures of the affectees of Model Town tragedy including the injured and families of the martyrs along with the letter PAT said it would write to WTO apprising the world body about the unethical, immoral, inhuman and illegal role played by Dr Tauqir Shah in Model Town case.

The decision to launch signature movement and countrywide protests was taken in a high-level meeting of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chaired by central President Dr Raheeq Abbasi. The meeting was attended by senior PAT leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, the PAT President said that the decision to launch protest movement was taken a month ago on December 16 on the completion of six months of Model Town tragedy but it was deferred for a month to mourn the Peshawar tragedy. He said that a government, which is not ready to make the report of judicial tribunal public, cannot be expected to deliver justice in the matter. He said that there is no change in the stance of PAT and its leadership on the issue of Model Town tragedy. He said we want the Chief Minister Punjab to tender his resignation; the report on Model Town tragedy should be published without any delay and a new JIT should be constituted with our concurrence. He said that the notification of JIT unilaterally established by the government should be withdrawn forthwith and its proceedings should be stopped.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi made it clear that the blood of Model Town martyrs would not go in vain. He said that every single drop of blood will be avenged through law. He said that terrorists who are responsible for Peshawar and Wagha border tragedies are beyond the reach of state agencies but those who perpetrated Model Town killings are before everyone asking as to who will capture them. He said that PAT had to knock at the door of the Lahore High Court to get the report of judicial tribunal. He said that the Home Secretary did not submit a copy of the report to the honorable judge of the Lahore High Court and our petition has been sent to the Chief Justice of the High Court to fix it before a full bench.