ISLAMABAD: Dr Tahirul Qadri has accused the police in Lahore of trying to influence the families of the victims of the Model Town incident.

Fourteen people were killed after law-enforcement agencies personnel tried to forcibly remove roadblocks from the cleric’s Model Town residence.

Aslo read: Model Town case: FIR registered against Nawaz, Shahbaz and 19 others

In his speech on Wednesday night, Dr Qadri alleged, “Superintendent of Police Umer Virk is putting pressure on the families of the martyrs to settle the matter with the accused.”

Imran says ‘Charter of Democracy’ was the original ‘London Plan’

“Mr Umer, you should avoid pressurising the families of the victims, or we will not spare you once we get to Lahore,” he said.

Dr Qadri also claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had cancelled meetings with the Pakistani community during his ongoing visit to the US out of fear that he would hear chants of ‘Go Nawaz Go’.

“I just received word from one of the members of Nawaz Sharif’s delegation in the US that the prime minister has cancelled all his meetings,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan rejected allegations regarding the ‘London Plan’, saying that the ‘Charter of Democracy’ was the original ‘London Plan’ whereby the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N had decided to take turns in ruling the country.

The PTI chief also announced that the party was planning a massive gathering at the Minar-i-Pakistan. “PTI will break all attendance records with its huge gathering on September 28 in Lahore,” Mr Khan said.

“My dear Lahoris, you should be ready for the largest-ever public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan on Sunday.

All those who have been trampled by injustice should not sit at home.

If you don’t have job, if you are suffering due to utility bills’ inflation, if you are struggling for justice, if you are suffering due to police culture and if you want to secure your rights; please participate in the PTI gathering on Sunday,” the PTI chief asked his followers.

“People ask me how I’m going to stay at D-Chowk. All of you know the answer; I won’t leave without securing the resignation of Nawaz Sharif, not because I want to be prime minister but because both the PPP and the PML-N have been looting people for the last 30 years,” Mr Khan said.

Late-night thundershowers did not dampen the spirits of either leader or their followers. But, the number of people at the sit-ins has dwindled. However, more people are expected to arrive at the sit-ins over the weekend.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2014