LAHORE - PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari called for registration of murder case of 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers against the Sharifs and initiation of court proceedings against them.
At a news conference after a meeting with PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri at Model Town yesterday, he also demanded resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
An operation was carried out to remove barricades around PAT headquarters in Model Town Lahore on June 17, 2014, during which police fired at the PAT workers killing 14 of them and causing serious injuries to dozens.
Zardari said that Punjab Police opened fire at innocent people on the orders of both Shehbaz and Sana.
Earlier, Dr Qadri welcomed Zardari-led delegation at Model Town and held an hour-long meeting. The sides exchanged views about the PAT-hosted multi-party conference scheduled for today (Saturday).
It was the second visit by Mr Zaradi to PAT head office in less than three weeks. Senior party leaders Khurished Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Senator Rehman Malk, Sardar Latif Khosa, Dr Qayum Somro and others accompanied him.
PPP co-chairman said that on the political front he always raised voice against violence and added that the party stood united with PAT over its stance in the Model Town case. He said that sacrifices rendered by 14 people in Model Town would bear fruit one day or the other.
To a question, he replied that if former president Parvez Musharraf was a brave person he would have come back to Pakistan and faced the courts.
To another question, the former president said the visits of Sharifs to Saudi Arabai will prove futile, as it would not help them save their wealth and ensure a safe exit. He said the kingdom was no more interested in helping Sharif family.
When asked if he was ready to join hands with Imran Khan, he said the PPP had no issue to sitting with any other political party on the Model Town issue. PAT spokesperson said Zardari thanked Dr Qadri for invitation to participate in the multi-party conference. He said the two leaders deliberated over Model Town massacre and developments concerning it in detail.
Dr Qadri, during the joint presser, announced that PPP agreed with all the clauses put forth by PAT over Model Town incident and that the MPC would formally begin at 12:45pm on Saturday. He said senior leadership of all opposition parties were attending the conference.
It should be noted that the PAT had earlier called MPC on December 28 but the date was pushed forward by two days by Dr Qadri.