LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek will join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Ehtesab (accountability) March on Sept 3 and the PTI would reciprocate by supporting PAT’s Qisas (blood money) rallies.

This was decided by both parties when a PTI delegation led by former Punjab governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Monday called on PAT officials to assure each other of support in their agitations.

Addressing a post-meeting joint press conference, leaders from both parties pledged cooperation against corruption, and support to each other in any effort designed to “stem the rot”.

Mr Sarwar said the rulers were not only non-serious in accountability but also silent on Indian aggression, Kashmir issue and Altaf Hussain’s hateful remarks against the country.

The government, he said, was not only abstaining from doing its national duty on these issues but also unwilling to convince international community against Indian aggression.

He said Altaf Hussain’s statements were a threat to national security but the government’s response was also a matter of concern for the people of Pakistan.

Accountability process should start from prime minister because corruption was also a serious threat for security and stability of Pakistan, he added.

“We will invite all parties, including the PPP to (join the) movement against corruption because all opposition parties are united on Panama Leaks, which has revealed hardly one per cent corruption of rulers. Strict action should be taken against the people who got loans waved off and committed corruption regardless of their political affiliation,” he said.

Khuram Nawaz Gandapur said whole PTI under leadership of Imran Khan was supporting PAT’s Qisas movement while “we willfully participate in accountability rally and all bilateral protests”.

Both PTI and PAT condemned the “criminal silence” of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Indian aggression because the government had gone completely mute on Indian aggression in occupied Kashmir, he said. “Qisas movement will continue until we get complete justice for Model Town massacre,” he added.

He said both parties discussed bilateral issues, incompetence and corruption of government, while PAT accepted invitation for September 3 rally of PTI.

Mr Sarwar said PAT had accepted PTI invitation for joining accountability rally, while his party stood with Mr Qadri on all issues and pledged full participation in Qisas movement.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016