Zardari, Qadri unite, demand resignation of CM Shebhaz Sharif

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Tahir-ul-Qadri on Thursday united in their decision and called for the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the Model Town inquiry report was published.

In a joint press conference, following a detailed meeting with PAT chief Qadri in Lahore, Zardari said that he will start a movement with the PAT leader and take to the streets if Shehbaz did not resign. Qadri had asked on Wednesday his followers to prepare for a new protest movement and get his container ready, which he had used on his previous protest.

Zardari said that after the Model Town report, Shehbaz was a condemned person and is not capable of being the chief minister of Punjab.

The clash between police and protesters at Model Town in 2014 had taken the lives of 14 while injuring 100. During the press conference, Qadri said the report had declared Shebhaz as a murderer and that Shehbaz had given orders to clear the protest no matter how many lives were taken.

Zardari visited Qadri at the PAT head office on Thursday, local media reported. They had a detailed discussion regarding the political situation after Justice Baqir Najfi commission report on the Model Town, which was made public on December 5.