Prayer ceremony in memory of martyrs of Model Town

Addressing a ceremony held in the memory of the martyrs of Model Town tragedy in Model Town in Lahore, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that the Panama JIT is a fixed match and some people are playing the role of a gate-keeper. He said that strategy for the next election is being formulated in the JIT proceedings. He said that those who have respect feel it when it is violated, adding that the rulers are not bothered about such notions as respect and honour.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that if there had been rule of law in the country, the martyrs of the Model Town tragedy would not have remained deprived of justice despite passage of three years. He said that he knows full well that he would not be able to get justice from these institutions, adding that he would continue to demand dispensation of justice till the last breath of his life. He said that in case of his death, his struggle for justice will be carried on by his next generation. He said that we would not allow the perpetrators of the Model Town tragedy become Raymond Davis. He said that suo moto notices were taken on as trivial matters as prices of sugar and samosas but the merciless shooting of around 100 innocent people could not be spotted.

The PAT Chairman said that Parliament has been rendered voiceless in the country. He said that institutions earn respect only when there is rule of law in the country. He said that we are knocking on the doors of courts for justice, further stating that the second and the third round of the Qisas movement is still left. He said that we have neither forgotten the faces of the killers nor the blood of the innocent people. He said that perpetrators are sitting in the government, and it is for this reason as to why the law is unable to take its course.

Dr Qadri said that the JIT of the government described the fake FIR registered by Police as defective during the investigation. Despite this, 42 PAT workers are being dragged in the anti-terrorism court for last three years. He said that the families of the martyrs have been kept deprived of their right for constitution of a neutral JIT for transparent investigation into the Model Town massacre and to top it all, the report of the Najfi Commission is not being made public. He said that it has been close to three years since we moved a petition in the High Court to get a copy of the judicial commission report but no decision has so far been handed down.

The PAT Chairman said that law is protecting the killers instead of the killed. He said that the investigative institutions are providing shield to the perpetrators instead of the oppressed. He said that courageous and honorable PAT workers rejected the offers of millions of rupees by the government.

The memorial ceremony in the honour of the martyrs of Model Town tragedy was also addressed by senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mian Manzoor Wattoo, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and Rafique Najam.

Qamar Zaman Kaira said that we pay rich tributes to families of the martyrs of Model Town tragedy who are standing by Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri in his struggle for justice. He said that Dr Qadri’s political struggle against oppression and exploitation is very long. He said that it is Allah’s punishment that every child of the ruling family is appearing before the JIT. He said that the fault of Jamshed Dasti is that he is the son of a labourer and has been able to sit next to the privileged lot in the assembly. He said that violence and oppression is the mindset of the ruling party.

Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed said on the occasion that the Punjab Chief Minister and Law Minister take sleep-inducing tablets but the blood of the innocent people does not let them sleep. He said that the report of Justice Baqir Najfi Commission should be made public without any further delay. He said that all those lies that Rana Sanaullah spoke on June 17, 2014, the day of Model Town tragedy, have become exposed today.

Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo said that every political party of Pakistan, people belonging to all walks and segments of life including intellectuals protested in favor of the Model Town martyrs, adding that still non-provision of justice is a great tragedy. He said that we pay homage to the workers of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri.

Ijaz Chaudhry said in his speech that oppression committed in Model Town is a black chapter in our history. He said that he is ready to lay down his life for justice in favor of the martyrs of Model Town.

PTI leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri promoted moderate vision of Islam and imparted the lesson of peace and love. He said that killings his workers is an act of oppression and the worst brutality.

At the end of the ceremony, all political leaders joined Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and the families of the martyrs to lay the floral wreath at the memorial place and made Dua.

President of MQI Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Hammad Mustafa Al-Madani, Brig. (r ) Farooq Hameed, Fayyaz Warraich, Brig. (r ) Muhammad Mushtaq, Mian Muhammad Munir, Allama Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Hafiz Muhammad Ali Yazadani and Pastor Samuel attended the ceremony.