Tahirul Qadri returns to Pakistan, announces protests on June 17

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri arrived in Pakistan after eight months and announced that his supporters would hold protests and sit-ins on June 17. 

Addressing his party supporters and media personnel outside the airport, Qadri thanked his supporters for showing up to welcome him. 

"I want to thank all those who came despite fasting in this sweltering heat," he said.

While announcing that he would be holding a protest on June 17, Qadri refused to give away all the details.

"The details of our sit-in protests will be given on June 17 at Mall road," he stated.

Qadri slammed the government and blamed them for openly murdering innocent women and children on June 17, 2014.

"The murders were committed on the behest of the government," he raged. "Where will we get justice from?"

He said that two years had passed since the incident, which was the worst example of state terrorism.

"This was not a police encounter, but mass murder," he said. "The murders were committed by police officers wearing uniforms," he added.

Qadri also said that the whole world had been a witness to the killings on June 17 however, a FIR was not registered for those who had died. He said despite the orders of the high court, the FIR was still not registered for the Model Town massacre. Qadri also said that he had rejected the findings of the government's JIT. 

"Bullets were fired at us but not one of our guards retaliated by firing even a single shot," claimed the PAT chief.  

He said that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif had stated that if the commission came forth with any evidence that pointed towards his compliance in the incident, he would resign. 

Qadri also spoke on the Panama Papers scandal and said that he knew nothing could be achieved from it. 

"I have already stated that nothing substantial can be derived from the Panama Papers," he said. "I am not a cricketer hence I do not talk about the umpire's finger," he said. 

Qadri spoke about his sit-in protest and said that whether it was for a long or short duration, that he could not say for the time being. He called upon the army chief to ensure justice was delivered. 

"The FIR regarding the Model Town massacre was registered at the guarantee of the army chief," he said. "After having the FIR registered, army chief should also ensure justice is served," he added. 

Tahir-ul-Qadri also called for the Model Town massacre case to be tried by the military courts under the National Action Plan.