LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri has retracted his statement in which he ordered killing of his followers who would abandon his 'Inqalab' march.

Talking to the media here on Monday, he clarified that in his previous day's speech he was alluding to (the killing of) his and of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan if any of them abandoned the march against the government.

The speech had been telecast live by all the TV channels.

Speaking in English to address his international audience, which might have got disturbed by Dr Qadri's directive-to-kill, he alleged that some media persons having political affiliations distorted his speech to create the impression that he had directed his workers to kill those who would betray and abandon the march.

But the PAT chief did not deny his statement of not sparing any male member of the Sharif family and the federal and Punjab cabinets if he was killed during the protest.

Published in Dawn, Aug 12th, 2014