In order to seek justice for the victims of Model Town tragedy and 'topple the government of Punjab', a joint opposition protest led by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) was held in front of the Punjab Assembly on The Mall on Wednesday. While addressing the protesters, PAT Chief Dr Tahir ul Qadri said that Punjab police have become a militant wing of the Sharif family which has badly failed to protect citizens. "The purpose of their protest is to get rid of incumbent Punjab government and soon they would get them out of power," he claimed. He said it is time to stand against the Sharif otherwise history will not forgive them.
The Model Town incident on June 17, 2014, had resulted into deaths of 14 people besides injuring around 100 others during an 'anti-encroachment operation' launched by the Punjab police outside Minhaj-ul Quran, PAT's head office. Qadri started his address saying that the conscience of the nation has woken up. He said the opposition parties had joined hands to seek justice for the Model Town victims and Zainab, a minor girl who was raped and murdered in Kasur earlier this month.
The PAT leader said the whole political and religious leadership of the country has gathered at Mall Road which proves that the countrymen have awakened. Referring to Nawaz Sharif, Qadri said all the political and religious parties want to get rid of the modern day 'Mujibur Rehman'.
The rulers should step down in order to strengthen democracy and uphold the supremacy of law and constitution, he demanded. Qadri urged the crowd to wake up and take a look at the enemy, referring to the PML-N leaders. He said the protesters don't want to harm democracy, they just want to topple the throne of Sharifs (Sultanat-e-Sharifiya). Accusing Shahbaz and Nawaz Sharif of accumulating wealth through corruption, the PAT chief said one brother (Nawaz) was facing cases in the Supreme Court and the other (Shahbaz) has turned the Punjab police into a militant wing of the PML-N.
He claimed that Rs 7.5 billion from the budget have been allocated for the Punjab police during the past few years to provide protection to the Sharif family. "The Sharifs run Punjab like their own business empire." The martyrs of Model Town and victims of Kasur are a few examples of their oppression, he said, adding that a nation which does not raise its voice against brutalities ends up with forgetting its own history. Tahirul Qadri arrived at the venue a little before 5pm and was welcomed by a large crowd of supporters and prominent leaders from various political parties.
At the end of second session of speeches, Qadri said his workers may avenge the murder of their dear ones by attacking Jati Umera if they are ordered so, but they have neither violated the constitution nor have any intention of doing so in future as well. In his concluding remarks, he said: "I am not in a position to take any decision alone on future line of action as seeking justice for the victims of Model Town has become a joint venture of all the political and religious parties. The Action committee which comprises of seven members will meet and declare future strategy," said. A special stage was set up atop a container. PPP Chief Asif Zardari and PTI Chairman Imran Khan also addressed the rally at different sessions.