Death toll of PAT workers rises to 11

The death toll of Pakistan Awami Tehrike (PAT) has reached to eleven when three PAT workers in critical condition took their last breath at Jinnah hospital. Eight PAT workers were killed on Tuesday in clash with police at Minhajul Quran Secretariat, Model Town. The Faisal Town police also nominated Hassan Mayuddin Qadri, son of Alama Tahirul Qadri, in a First Information Report (FIR) registered for the clash with police.
Sections of murder, attempted murder and terrorism have been included in the FIR. The clash, which took place outside the Minhajul Quran International Secretariat, had left as many as eight party workers including two women dead and 95 others injured. Several leaders of political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Punjab president Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed also attended the funeral prayers of the PAT workers.
Hundreds of PAT workers as well as members of religious parties were present at the funeral. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, while speaking to media in Lahore, said the demolition of barriers was a routine anti-encroachment exercise and that certain elements twisted the event into a political clash. "This is why we have established inquiry committees; those responsible will be punished as per law," he said, further accusing the PAT leaders of provoking their supporters to violence.
The provincial law minister said statements issued by Qadri and his party leaders intensified the situation. "I extend my sympathies and condolences to those who were provoked by their leaders and got injured in the clash," he said. Sanaullah called on Qadri to accept the state, the law and current political realities and not create difference among the people. "If Dr Qadri wants change, he should come here and win the public's mandate but he cannot impose his agenda by force," the Punjab law minister said.
He lashed out at critics who were accusing Punjab government of delaying investigation into the incident. "Those who are saying we are using delaying tactics are questioning the integrity our judiciary; the judges working on this case are independent and they don't take orders from anyone.