LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday refused to appear before a judicial commission formed to probe into the killing of at least eight PAT supporters after they clashed with local police yesterday, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to his followers through a video link from Canada, he said that they do not recognise this judicial commission and will not appear before it either. He reiterated his demand that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif was responsible for the incident and should resign from his post.
Qadri alleged that the inquiry commission was formed upon ‘fake’ FIR registered by the attackers and vowed not to accept it.
“Our case is against the chief minister and his cabinet … we will bring the whole country along to get the FIR registered,” he said.
Also read: Shahbaz takes notice of reports alleging 'police tampering'
The PAT chief also alleged that after the 16-hour long ‘state terrorism,’ the provincial authorities made up the case of recovering weapons from his residence and Minhajul Quran secretariat.
“My residence and central secretariat were attacked … the power was cut, electricity generator was destroyed and bullets were shot at doors and windows.”
“None of our guards fired a single bullet … the whole nation witnessed who opened gunfire,” he added.
Families of the deceased are being pressurised besides being offered millions of rupees, said the PAT chief, adding that leaders of his party’s student wing are seeking permission to keep arms for self-defence.
He claimed that another injured has died in hospital, raising the total death toll to 11 from the incident.
PTI demands resignation of CM Shahbaz
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan assured his full support to the PAT and repeatedly demanded for the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Sharif.
In a press conference outside the Minhajul Quran secretariat, he held the Punjab government responsible for the clash in Lahore that led to the deaths of PAT workers.
The cricketer-turned-politician criticised the Punjab police and stated that the law enforcing force has violated the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to erect barriers outside the residence of Tahirul Qadri.
Read more: PTI protests for PAT
"The police has been working as a wing of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz,” said Imran Khan. “They are manipulated for political gains,” he added.
The PTI chief further said that his party stands shoulder to shoulder with the PAT.
Rights group demands impartial probe
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) demanded of the authorities in Pakistan to ensure that a judicial inquiry into the Lahore tragedy fully and impartially investigates the likely unnecessary use of lethal force.
“The Pakistani authorities need to explain why police officers found it necessary to fire live ammunition directly into a crowd of protesters throwing rocks,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“There are a lot of dead and wounded people in Lahore today, and no clear reason why,” he added.
“Pakistan’s security forces have a history of using excessive force against civilians with impunity,” Adams said.
“A transparent and impartial investigation into the Lahore shootings is necessary to prevent even greater distrust of the security forces.”
