LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pervaiz Elahi, and Jamaat-i-Islami’s Sirajul Haq and Liaquat Baloch visited the residence of Pakistan Awami Tehrik head Dr Tahirul Qadri and inquired after his health.

Dr Qadri thanked them and all those who had either telephoned him or sent flowers.

Talking to reporters, Shujaat said those spreading rumours about Dr Qadri’s movements should be ashamed.

He said Imran Khan should have given protest dates after due deliberations. He said former president Asif Ali Zardari was a great player and there was no doubt that he bowled very well in politics.

Pervaiz Elahi said Imran’s demand for a judicial commission to investigate rigging in the 2013 elections was just and the Nawaz-League should immediately accept it.

Mr Elahi said there was no one around Nawaz Sharif who could make him understand about the current political situation.

“Nawaz talks about justice but when it comes to his home he forgets justice,” he said and demanded resignation from Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his alleged involvement in the killing of 14 PAT workers in Model Town in last June.

PAT Secretary-General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said the government was lying about providing an air ambulance for Dr Qadri.

“In fact, a hospital in Bhakkar had refused to admit Dr Qadri for treatment,” he said.

Gandapur said the PAT offices had been receiving thousands of phone calls inquiring after the health of the PAT chief.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2014