LAHORE - PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, who is coming back to the country in the middle of a heightened political crisis, can lead a protest drive focusing the unmanageable energy issue, The Nation has learnt.
Dr Qadri after his return to country on June 29 could re-launch his ‘Inqilab March’, riding this time the rising tide of power loadshedding and other major issues facing the country, party sources told this correspondent on Saturday.
But, he is most likely to start his political activities after Eidul Fitr because the pace of the protest drive would be slow if launched during Ramazan, the sources said.
When contacted, Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) central president Dr Raheeq Abbasi said, “We have (already) warned the government that PAT would come to the streets if the rulers failed to control loadshedding during Ramazan. Dr Qadri launched a successful Inqilab March earlier then why can’t he lead another anti-government campaign?”
He said: According to party plans made so far, PAT chief would hold informal meetings with party leaders on his return till 20th of Ramazan and later join the Seher-i-Aitkaaf till the end of the holy month. Dr Qadri is most likely to start political activities after Eid but extraordinary events could force the leadership to alter the plans.
Dr Abbasi said: PAT chief will land in Lahore on June 29 from London via Dubai at 7am. A special committee has been formed to oversee the arrangements to greet the party chairman. PAT activists in large numbers would accord a warm welcome to party chief on his arrival, while a comprehensive plan would be chalked out soon.
Political observers are unclear about the real political targets of Dr Qadri’s comeback at this stage, as they believe that PAT chairman won’t be able to create a ‘whirlpool’ in the political arena without the help of key political forces even at the height of political crises of various nature. They say the result of another ‘political adventure’ of PAT chairman is difficult to predict, partly because his political allies felt betrayed when he announced to call off the previous anti-government drive without consulting them.
The PML-Q, which was the major ally of the PAT and is now making bids for a grand opposition alliance by gathering various Muslim League factions under a single umbrella along with likeminded religious parties, is not interested in inviting Qadri for their new political operation. A PML-Q leader told this reporter that no contact would be made with Dr Qadri because of his ‘betrayal’ with PML-Q, Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen regarding the conclusion of the Inqilab March. The religious parties to be contacted for making a grand opposition alliance include Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Noorani), Sunni Tehreek, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council, while efforts would also be made to allure the JUI-F for this coalition.