Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri announced on Sunday that August 14 will be the day of his ‘revolution march’ to topple the government.
He made the announcement at the end of a speech to thousands of supporters who had gathered in Model Town to observe ‘Martyr’s Day’— a demonstration to protest against deadly clashes that took between his supporters and the Punjab police in June.
Qadri has condemned the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government as corrupt and called for the overthrow of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Saturday was another day full of violence as aggressive PAT workers resisted police officials manning pickets in parts of Punjab.
Below are Dawn’s live updates of the protests across Punjab and other provinces on ‘Martyr’s Day’ as well as Dr Qadri’s speech to his supporters:
Qadri tells supporters ‘revolution march’ to start from 14th August.
Qadri tells supporters, “if anything happens to me, avenge my death, blood must be repaid with blood”.
There is need for collective struggle for revolution. #TributeToMartyrs
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 10, 2014
If nation thinks that revolution will come with struggle of workers of a few parties, then it is not possible. #TributeToMartyrs
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 10, 2014
“We are totally against imposition of martial law, we will never accept it,” says Qadri.
Make a resolve to protect struggle against oppression, repression from country #TributeToMartyrs #Pakistan
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 10, 2014
Our peaceful revolution is democratic, legal and constitutional. We condemn terrorism in its forms and manifestations. #TributeToMartyrs
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 10, 2014
Bullets were sprayed on those coming for Martyrs Day and 25,000 workers were arrested. #TributeToMartyrs
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 10, 2014
“We will not respond to acts of torture with torture,” PAT chief says.
Qadri tells supporters that “our struggle is completely peaceful”.
PAT chief says Model Town has become like Gaza during the past week.
“We want to bring true democracy in Pakistan and remove all extremism in the country,” Qadri says.
Qadri tells supporters that he is fighting a war of revolution for the oppressed, traders, farmers and the poor people of Pakistan.
PAT chief says that Imprisonment is sometimes necessary in order to bring about a revolution.
“I am fighting the war on behalf on 180 million people,” says PAT chief.
“Tax evasion and other allegations were leveled against me yet the government has failed to prove a single charge against me,” says Qadri.
“I have refused food which was offered to me by my wife and told her that i will not have food until all my supporters received food,” says Qadri.
Qadri says that he is only afraid of God and says that he is not someone who is frightened very easily. The PAT chief tells supporters that he will never bow down before oppressors.
PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri speaking to his supporters while observing ‘Martyr’s Day’. Qadri says that he is not afraid of death and is ready to embrace it.
Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said that the rulers would leave their posts if Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan joined forces.
He also demanded that the containers, setup to block roads throughout Punjab, should be immediately removed, as they were causing hardship to the citizens.
Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza said that it was time for the rulers to leave and added that according to Dr Tahirul Qadri there was no middleground between bringing a revolution and embracing martyrdom
Sheikh Rasheed further said that there was no electricity or gas in the country and unemployment was rampant yet the government was advertising its claims of progress in the country.
He added that he wished for the unison of all forces fighting against ‘tyranny’ in the country.
Twitter users call the Punjab administration out on paraylsing life in Lahore.
Roads blocked. Ambulances trapped. Weddings, funerals in disarray. No petrol. Busting the bubble of @CMShehbaz's overrated administration.
— Ali Salman Alvi (@alisalmanalvi) August 10, 2014
Sick. Why can't people have a political rally without saying they'll lynch people.Phansi/lynch mob mentality #TahirulQadri rally #Pakistan
— Umber Khairi (@umberkhairi) August 10, 2014
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, while addressing the “Martyr’s Day” function participants, said that the army did not belong to Nawaz Sharif nor Imran Khan rather belonged to Pakistan.
Police have arrested more than 500 of Qadri’s supporters in the last three days, officials said.
“A case of murder, inciting violence and treason have been registered against Tahir-ul-Qadri and his supporters,” senior police official Zulfiqar Hameed told AFP.
Police said the cleric, who had previously threatened to march on the Pakistani capital and overthrow the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, faced many other accusations of attempted murder as well as inciting his followers to attack police and commit terrorist acts.
PAT workers, including a large number of women, have gathered in Model Town Lahore to commemorate ‘Martyr’s Day’. DawnNews reports that Tahirul Qadri will address the gathering, along with Sheikh Rasheed, Pervez Elahi and Chaudhry Shujaat.Women in Model Town are reading the Holy Quran as instructed a day earlier by PAT chief Dr Qadri.
A First Information report (FIR) was registered against Tahirul Qadri for the deaths of three policemen who were killed during clashes with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers a day earlier in Lahore.
Police sources said the case was registered over the complaint of the heirs of the slain policemen.
Addressing a press conference, PAT chief Tahirul Qadri thanked all the participants who had arrived on his call to observe ‘Martyr’s Day.’
He added that delegations, of all invited political parties, had reached the Minhajul Quran secretariat whereas he would present his demands at the end of the event.
“@shoaibmirza11: Must see #TUQ Terrorism & Brutality; Worst Barbarism by TUQ followers @jawabdeyh @batulrajpoot pic.twitter.com/SYZ2XAl529”
— Saima Farooq (@SaimaFarooq) August 10, 2014
Dr #TUQ must take control of his party. Constable M Ashraf killed by #PAT followers was only brother of 3 sisters pic.twitter.com/uuKOYSUgKy
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) August 9, 2014
This chaos will continue till 14 august -_- Common people always suffer ... #Lahore pic.twitter.com/eoJRpINga0
— sabih ul hassan (@sabihSays) August 10, 2014
An MQM delegation led by MNA Abdul Rashid Godil reach Tahirul Qadri’s Model Town residence after “facing great difficulty”.
Addressing the media, Godil said the delegation was prevented from allowing trucks of food through to the protesters.
“We told them search us, search the truck, but please let the food through” a visibly upset Rashid Godil said.
“The issue is quite complicated and not as simple as being portrayed,” PML-N leader Marvi Memon said to DawnNews.
She added that PAT activists were not regular protesters but were involved in violent activities which had resulted in the deaths of policemen in Lahore.
“Our party came into power with a mandate and will definitely complete its five-year tenure,” Memon said while answering a question over the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s demand of Nawaz Sharif’s resignation.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain appealed to authorities to allow food supplies to reach Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers moving towards the Minhajul Quran secretariat in Lahore.
In a telephone address, Altaf warned that if the Punjab government did not remove containers from roads leading to Model Town “within 30 minutes”, routes across the country would be blocked.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri cannot get support from political forces or the people of Pakistan and will not succeed in their designs.
In an interview with Radio Pakistan, he said the PTI has very low political representation and wants to create unrest in the country.
Containers, containers everywhere
Container set up on way to Banigala. Found out as I was going up for meeting pic.twitter.com/yOcnaEtMlx
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) August 10, 2014
Shame on #PMLN really sad when me saw this pic @MaryamNSharif @CMShehbaz @HamidMirGEO @SyedaShehlaRaza @BakhtawarBZ pic.twitter.com/8lGXuMg5Id
— Bakhtawar B zardari (@Bakhtawarbz_FC) August 9, 2014
Criticism aplenty
Meanwhile, no need for democratic govt to turn into container and police raj either. The same protests could have been handled coolly
— sherryrehman (@sherryrehman) August 10, 2014
So Terrorul Qadri wants to outdo Imran Khan by reaching earlier than him? I see! Bring on the Shahadat proof bunker!
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) August 10, 2014
Mobile services are reportedly suspended in Lahore’s Model Town area, where PAT protesters are trying to reach the Minhajul Quran secretariat.
Musharraf Ali Farooqi tweets about the large number of female supporters who have come out to support Dr Qadri in his anti-government movement.
I'm looking for a lady squad to swear allegiance to me, guard me, and obey my commands. It's a new thing in #Lahore so no noises please.
— Musharraf A. Farooqi (@microMAF) August 10, 2014
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday held a meeting with Premier Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind to discuss the country’s political and security situation in light of ‘Martyrs Day’ being observed by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) today and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI’s) ‘Azadi march’ on independence day.
The provincial CM also briefed the prime minister over the security steps taken in view of the prevailing law and order situation in Punjab.
The Sharif brothers agreed on carrying out action against PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and holding negotiations with PTI chief Imran Khan, DawnNews quoted sources as saying.
Security has been beefed up across Lahore to contain PAT activists on ‘Martyr’s Day’.
All entry and exit points to Model Town, including the Babu Sabu interchange, Manga Mandi and Thokar Niaz Beg have been closed. The bridge on GT Road and Sagyan area has also been sealed.
Helicopters are being used for the aerial surveillance of the Minhajul Quran Secretariat and barbed wire has been used on top of walls to keep protesters out.
As PAT workers protest in several parts of Lahore, clashes have erupted when activists resist manning at police pickets. In Lahore, three policemen were injured in a skirmish with protesters.
Separately in Bhakkar, a police crackdown resulted in the arrest of 250 PAT workers.
Tahirul Qadri sees a conspiracy afoot, despite a promise to remove containers:
The Punjab govt will not remove all containers. Only selective containers will be removed to create a false pretense. #YoumeShuhada #Lahore
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 9, 2014
The oppression and tyranny on people and their sacrifices will pave the way of revolution. #YoumeShuhada #Lahore
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 9, 2014
The Minhajul Quran secretariat in Model Town has been cordoned off by the police, with heavy contingents of police personnel deployed to keep PAT protestors away, DawnNews reported.
While Dr Qadri had urged protestors to remain in their districts if they are being prevented from coming into Lahore, large numbers of PAT supporters were pouring into the city and moving towards the secretariat.
“A revolution will come,” one woman shouted. “We have come on Dr Qadri’s call and are ready to take bullets for change,” she added. She said that Dr Qadri had asked them to come out of their homes and bring their rosaries and prayer mats.
Dr Tahirul Qadri has asked his supporters to hold sit-ins in their own districts on Sunday in case they fail to reach Lahore because of restrictions put in place by the government, Dawn reported today.
The Punjab government’s decision to remove containers from some roads in the city and elsewhere has given hope to the PAT that a good number of its workers may make it to Model Town, Lahore.
Because of petrol pump closures and mass impounding of buses, roads remained largely deserted in Lahore and Islamabad.
