Qadri announces 'grand' expansion of protests

Published August 18, 2014
Dr Tahirul Qadri. — File photo
Dr Tahirul Qadri. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri announced the expansion of the Inqilab march in the form of multiple protests across the country.

“Whether Sunni or Shia, Deobandi or Barelvi, religious minded or secular, from any location or ethnicity…from this evening onward, all groups will start protesting.”

The PAT chief claimed that raids had been conducted at the homes of Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) workers because the group had announced on Sunday that they would take out protests in support of Qadri. MWM Sindh chapter general secretary Allama Mukhtar Imami had announced that the MWM would stage sit-ins from Monday on the main thoroughfares and highways in support of ‘Inquilab march’ of the PAT.


A round of praise


Qadri also took time out to praise the PTI on their "revolution", claiming the PAT and the PTI movements were working towards the same end goal.

"I say Zindabad to the PTI workers...they are our brothers. I congratulate Imran on announcing a two-day deadline" he said.

Tahirul Qadri also applauded his supporters’ commitment to the cause.

“Everyone has praised the discipline and resolve of the Inqilab march,” he said.


Criticism aplenty


The PAT chief proceeded to lambast the government over alleged corruption, failures and conspiracies against the PAT. His highly charged diatribe was interrupted occasionally by chants of “Go Nawaz go!”.

He also criticized the Sindh government for its inefficiencies in addressing the needs of the people, particularly minorities. He called on "all Sindhis and Baloch" to join the movement, outlining how their "rulers have failed them".

Qadri alleged that the government had informed him of threats to his life from several different terrorist groups, yet had “jammed” his car, making it impossible to enter.

He explained to the "Western democratic world," that people were out on the streets due to "a complete lack of justice".

Opinion

Editorial

When medicine fails
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

When medicine fails

Between now and 2050, medical experts expect antibiotic resistance to kill 40m people worldwide.
Nawaz on India
Updated 18 Nov, 2024

Nawaz on India

Nawaz Sharif’s hopes of better ties with India can only be realised when New Delhi responds to Pakistan positively.
State of abuse
18 Nov, 2024

State of abuse

DESPITE censure from the rulers and society, and measures such as helplines and edicts to protect the young from all...
Football elections
17 Nov, 2024

Football elections

PAKISTAN football enters the most crucial juncture of its ‘normalisation’ era next week, when an Extraordinary...
IMF’s concern
17 Nov, 2024

IMF’s concern

ON Friday, the IMF team wrapped up its weeklong unscheduled talks on the Fund’s ongoing $7bn programme with the...
‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs
Updated 17 Nov, 2024

‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs

If curbing pornography is really the country’s foremost concern while it stumbles from one crisis to the next, there must be better ways to do so.