Our struggle within confines of first 40 Articles of the Constitution: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that if seeking justice, raising voice against rigging, demanding equal and fair treatment for all citizens, and exercising the right of freedom of expression is a crime and an attack on democracy, then the chapter of fundamental rights should be deleted from the book of Constitution.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri stated this while talking to the lawyer-leaders of PAT yesterday. The lawyers briefed him about various petitions filed in the antiterrorism court, Lahore High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan with reference to Model Town tragedy.

The PAT Chairman said that the articles dealing with the security of people, electoral rigging and equal treatment of citizens are part of the Constitution 1973, stating we have always campaigned for their implementation and will continue to do so in future as well. He said that we always demanded justice for the Model Town martyrs in accordance with the law and the Constitution which has not been provided so far. He said that media, civil society and legal community should hold every such person accountable whose conduct is over and above the law of the land.

Dr Qadri said that he always talked about love, peace and supremacy of law and the constitution. He said that live bullets were fired upon our people yet we did not take law in our hands, stating that it has been close to four years since we have been waiting for justice. He said when the proofs and evidence lying in the government coffers are placed before the court, the process of justice will get a fillip. He said that 1300 documents attached with Justice Najfi Commission report are not being handed over the family members of the martyrs and it is in this context that we talk about fair investigation and fair trial and this right has been endowed on us by the Constitution of Pakistan.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the rulers have not replied as to who ordered the firing on the defenceless citizens in Model Town. He said that the fourth year is on its way towards completion since June 2014 but no killer involved in the tragedy whose reverberation was felt across the world has been punished despite passage of so many years. He asked if Article 9 of the Constitution does not give guarantee of life and its protection to every citizen. Does Article 10-A not give one a right to fair trial? Does Article 14 not regard the human dignity as sacrosanct? Does Article 25 not guarantee equal treatment of all citizens in the eyes of law?

The PAT leader said that our struggle has not gone beyond first 40 Articles of the Constitution. He said that if these provisions of the Constitution are not meant for implementation, then they should better be deleted from it in the same way as the bar on the disqualified person holding the party office was changed.

Meanwhile, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed his deep sense of grief and sorrow on the sad demise of renowned poet, writer, columnist and intellectual, Munnoo Bahi. He prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in peace and give patience to the bereaved family.