Another setback for PTI as Qadri departs for Canada

LONDON/ISLAMABAD: In another setback for Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief left for Canada from London on Monday as his party announced to not participate in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) bid to lock down Islamabad.

PTI's efforts to get Tahirul Qadri agreed for participation in Islamabad sit-in went in vain, as the latter departed for Canada without meeting Sheikh Rasheed and Jahangir Tareen. The PAT chief was in London, where he was met by Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday.

Rasheed yesterday called on PAT chief Tahirul Qadri and held a detailed discussion on the situation back home as well as the PTI sit-in in Islamabad, sources said. He, however, failed to secure Qadri's support for the protest in federal capital.

Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri got closer to each other during the controversial 2014 sit-ins in Islamabad, yet Qadri abandoned the D-Chowk despite lofty claims to stand his ground until his demands were not met.

Later, the PTI chairman was repeatedly taunted for addressing vacant seats at the venue of the sit-in, but ye continued.

During the 'second season', the two political figures held rallies on the same day in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Qadri also said that he could stage a sit-in in Islamabad or Raiwind.

Tahirul Qadri, however, left for London when Imran Khan announced to march on Raiwind.

PTI leaders, Jahangir Tareen and Chaudhry Sarwar, and AML head Sheikh Rasheed reportedly reached London a couple of days ago to convince Qadri, but the PAT chief didn't agree to their request.

Qadri on Sunday had asked Rasheed for some time to think about his proposal, but left for Canada today, deserting Imran Khan and his party.

PTI has given a call for a protest in Islamabad on October 30, in a final showdown aimed at forcing PM Nawaz to step down and present himself for accountability in the wake of Panama Papers disclosures.