ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri addressing sit-in participants on Monday requested that they prepare for a revolution and presented a 48-hour deadline to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

Qadri warned, “I ask the members of National Assembly to leave the house before my deadline expires.”

He applauded the efforts of the PAT supporters who he said continued to participate in what he said is a "historic protest".

Qadri remarked that in the history of Pakistan there is no example of this many people participating for a sit-in.

"All the credit for this struggle goes to the people," he said.

Qadri blamed the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for letting the situation escalate to this stage.

“The government arrested more than 10,000 of our workers before the start of this march,” he said, adding that, “These people who showed up are the true representatives of the people.”

According to Qadri, the twelfth day of this protest was now transforming into a revolution. “We do not believe in these assemblies and its so-called representatives,” Qadri said. “The assemblies and elections were unconstitutional.”

Aside: Rallies, by Feica

The PAT chief alleged that the procedure followed to select the election setup and the way the elections were carried out, assemblies were formed, was in clear violation of Article 213, and added that no one from any political party dared to disagree with him on this point.

“We consider the government unconstitutional from the very first day,” said Qadri.

Firebrand Canadian cleric Tahirul Qadri aims at ousting a democratically-elected government and enforcing what he calls the "people's parliament".

Qadri had earlier appealed to the masses to turn up in large number for the people's parliament and that “it will now be 'haraam' to sit at home”.

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.