LAHORE: A national conference has unanimously demanded that the prime minister immediately resign for failing to prove the money trail of London flats.

The conference was organised by the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in connection with the 66th birthday of Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday.

The conference unanimously adopted a resolution to condemn the bombing of The Mall, Sehwan Sharif and Charsadda and demanded that killers of innocent people, their masterminds and facilitators be brought to justice and given exemplary punishments. The conference sympathised with the families of the deceased and prayed for the early recovery of those injured in the attacks.

The resolution demanded that a Rangers operation be initiated in Punjab immediately and continue it till the elimination of militants and their hideouts and the Rangers be given all powers and facilities for the operation.

It said the National Action Plan be implemented in letter and spirit to uproot terrorism and extremism. It also demanded the Justice Baqir Najafi Report on Model Town be made public and made part of the prosecution in the case.

The resolution demanded the report of the commission on news leaks be released forthwith and action be taken in the light of the Qazi Essa report against those responsible for attempting to sabotage the National Action Plan.

It demanded the resignation of the prime minister for his failure to prove money trail of London flats in the Panama case and action against NAB, the FBR and the FIA for failing to perform their constitutional obligations. It also demanded action against certain ministers for hurling threats on the Supreme Courts premises at judges without naming them.

PPP leader Manzoor Wattoo said the government departments were only serving the rulers and it had become imperative in the larger public interest to oust the incumbent Punjab government. He said the Punjab government could not absolve itself of the Model Town killings.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Chaudhry Sarwar said Rangers’ operation in Punjab should have been launched much earlier. He said politicisation of government departments had resulted in increase in unrest and terrorism. He lauded Dr Qadri for his globally-acclaimed edict against terrorism.

PPP’s Syeda Abida Husain said the prime minister had failed to satisfy the court in the Panama case and there was a proof of money laundering and tax evasion against him.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch said the nation should unite to fight against terrorism. He said Pakistan and terrorism could not get along and those, who had plundered the national wealth, should be brought to justice.

PML-Q’s Chaudhry Zaheeruddin said it was high time the people start thinking about electing true leadership.

PAT’s Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Dr Husain Mohyuddin, Sunni Ittehad Council chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Awam League president Riaz Fatyana, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen leader Asad Naqvi, All Pakistan Muslim League’s Fatima Atif Malhi, Hafiz Ghulam Mohiyuddin, Qayyum Nizami and Shaukat Qadri also spoke.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017