Transparent elections not possible in presence of current rulers: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri addresses workers convention

Addressing the workers convention of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on July 28, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has asked the government as to where is the Model Town Commission report, which has not been made public despite passage of one year, whereas the report of the Judicial Commission probing rigging charges was released without any loss of time simply because it was to the liking of the rulers. He said that the PAT staged a long march against unconstitutionally formed Election Commission and also moved a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but the then Chief Justice did not show seriousness. He said that we still consider the ECP as unconstitutional and illegal. He said that the Sharif brothers established the Commissions to probe the allegations of rigging and the Commission on Model Town tragedy. He said that the report of one Commission was released after a few hours while that of the Model Town Commission has been held for last one year. He asked as to what is there in both reports whereby one was made public while the publication of the other has purposefully been delayed.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Brig. (r ) Muhammad Yousaf, Mushtaq Kiyani, Syed Mahmood Hassan Agha, Aamir Farid Koreja, Nooruallah Saddiqi, Umar Riaz Abbasi, Mazhar Alvi, Irfan Yousuf, Razia Naveed, Ayesha Mubasher and the thousands of workers attended the convention.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the Minhaj Welfare Foundation is giving financial assistance to the families of martyrs, the injured and prisoners of the revolution march. He said that he had stated well before time that the Judicial Commission on rigging will give the clean-chit to the government. He said that we did stage a long march against the unconstitutionally formed Election Commission. He said that the then government signed an agreement with us in which it promised to introduce electoral reforms before the elections but it did not implement the provisions of the agreement. He said that as long as these rulers stay in power, there is no way fair, free and transparent elections can be conducted in their presence.

The PAT chief said that the country is being looted with both hands. He said that the PAT will take active part in the local government elections. He said that it is truth which prevails at the end. He said that we are becoming part of the electoral process as part of mass contact campaign. He said that the sit-in was merely one chapter of the book of revolution, adding that the whole book is still there. He said that given the volatile nature of circumstances of Pakistan, it is not fair to give one’s conclusive and definitive opinion. He said that situation may change any moment here. He said that we will formulate our political strategy as political situation evolves.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri made it clear yet again that he did not end the sit-in as a result of any deal or understanding with the government. He said that those spreading such rumours are liars and conspirators. He said that the PAT had 17 rounds of dialogue with the government during the sit-in for the formation of neutral JIT to investigate Model Town killings but they failed to produce any consensual result. He said that we packed up the sit-in out of our own free will. He said that he has come to Islamabad for the first time after the sin-in to have meetings with the intellectuals, journalists and the workers. He said that he is undergoing treatment and is ready to give the government a fresh challenge after his recovery. He said that the government’s propaganda of a deal has died its own death. He said that he would not give his opinion whether the present government will complete its tenure or not but would add that as long as the present rulers stay in power, the country will continue to suffer. He said that he would not rest till he brings the perpetrators of the Model Town killings to justice. He said that the target killers of innocent people in Model town will not be able to escape justice for long nor will they continue to enjoy power in Islamabad and Lahore for extended period of time.

Dr Qadri said that he has directed the workers to start preparation for upcoming LG polls with renewed vigor and determination. He said that the present rulers are looting the country with both hands, adding that we are as determined now as we were in the past to get rid of them through political struggle. He said that he is ready to undertake the second round of struggle for revolution. He said that the PAT workers are struggling for the sake of Islam and Pakistan and defeat is a word unknown to them.