LAHORE - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri on Monday alleged the Model Town massacre was planned at Prime Minister’s House, Islamabad.
Addressing a press conference at the party head office after arriving from London, Dr Qadri again rejected the JIT report on the incident.
“Media personnel and the people of the whole country are eyewitnesses to the torture and atrocities committed in Model Town. No joint investigation team is acceptable to probe the incident under the PML-N government,” he said and added it was now the responsibility of the courts to provide justice to the families of the victims.
He offered to extend his party’s cooperation in case an impartial JIT was formed.
Qadri also sought Pakistan Army’s intervention to get justice for the Pakistan Awami Tehreek victims. Addressing the military forces, he said 14 dead bodies lying in Lahore were waiting for justice.
He claimed the Sharifs planned to kill innocent workers of PAT and issued instructions to the Punjab police for this purpose.
“We will not rest until the culprits are sent to the gallows. Sharifs will not be allowed to go scot-free.”
To a question, Qadri said he and Chaudhry brothers had not any differences.
He rejected the rumours of deal between PAT and the government on the Model Town incident.
Qadri lamented the deaths caused by heatwave in Karachi. “Almost 1,500 people have died in Karachi while the blame game is going on between the provincial government and the Centre. Had this incident occurred anywhere else in the world, government would have resigned.”
He avoided offering comments on the alleged RA-MQM relations.
Earlier, he was given a warm welcome by the party leaders and workers on his arrival at the Lahore airport.
A Pakistan Awami Tehreek statement said thousands of the party workers greeted their leader at the Allama Iqbal International Airport. After a hectic four-hour drive, the PAT leader reached his Model Town residence. ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans were raised at the airport.
A large number of women were also among those who welcomed Dr Tahirul Qadri.