LAHORE: The PML-Q and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek decided on Saturday to launch a movement against the government next month. The decision was made by the two parties at a meeting in London which set a 10-point agenda they intend to achieve either “through pressuring the government or sending it home”.
The meeting was attended by PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, Pervaiz Elahi, Moonis Elahi and PAT leader Dr Tahirul Qadri and his team.
They discussed a plan to hold rallies after Dr Qadri’s return to the country next month to compel the PML-N government to accept their demands, particularly electoral reforms, “or face consequences”. “We will welcome other parties to join us but will not depend on them,” they said.
A joint declaration issued after the meeting said that the formation of a new “real democratic government” was inevitable because the incumbent government had come to power “through rigging”.
It says: “The PML-Q and PAT will provide employment and residence to every citizen. People earning less than Rs15,000 per month will be given a subsidy and will get flour, cooking oil and milk at half of their prices. They will be entitled to pay no electricity, water and gas tariff. We will provide free education up to matriculation and devolve power to the grass-root level. To make Pakistan a welfare state, we will adopt austerity measures and widen the tax net. We will eliminate sectarianism and make the country an enlightened state.”
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2014
