Pakistan 'going through turbulent times': Tahir ul Qadri addresses media in Lahore

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LAHORE: The country is "going through turbulent times", Dr. Tahir ul Qadri — the chief of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) — warned as he spoke to reporters early Tuesday morning at Allama Iqbal International Airport after reaching the city only minutes before.

Qadri was referring to the recent sit-in in Islamabad that had left the federal capital paralysed for three weeks but was finally called off early Monday after protesters reached an agreement with the government and Zahid Hamid — the federal Minister for Law — had stepped down.

The developments came in the wake of protests that had continued throughout Pakistan, following Saturday's crackdown by the police and paramilitary personnel on the protest staged by a religious party.

"We witnessed over the past few days that the government has failed in the entirety," the PAT chief commented, stressing on how the Parliament has become ineffective and "the ministers seem to be stuck inside their homes".

Qadri highlighted that the nation's leadership not only fell short in getting the demonstrators to end their sit-in but also made a botched attempt at the subsequent discussions.

"The government's failure is not hidden from anyone," he stated.

The party chief underscored that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has once again "started sending 'men' to ask for forgiveness" and that he has been apologising for the Model Town case since three years.

"The ruling has been finalised; the decision to make public the Justice Baqir Najfi Commission report [which pertains to the Model Town incident] will be coming soon," he commented.

Qadri has continuously demanded that the aforementioned report be made public, asking what is Shehbaz Sharif — the Chief Minister of Punjab — afraid of, if he is not responsible for the tragedy.

The 2014 Model Town incident left 14 PAT workers dead and scores injured.

The PAT head concluded his speech talking about the upcoming Rabi-ul-Awwal celebrations.

"We will hold the Tajdar-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat Conference at Minar-e-Pakistan on 11th Rabi-ul-Awwal."