LAHORE: The ruling PML-N has got endorsement for its call for a national dialogue from its ‘sworn’ foe Dr Tahirul Qadri, accused by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of being a part of the much-touted ‘London plan’ allegedly orchestrated by the establishment to oust him from power back in 2014.

“If one desires to see the homeland come out of crises and avoid its further destruction, all the institutions and other stakeholders must sit together, open their minds and hearts to each other while learning from the past mistakes,” he says.

“All should forgive each other, admit their respective mistakes and let bygones be bygones to make a new start by inking a new social contract,” he says while talking to Dawn by phone from London.

The leadership of ruling allies, the PML-N and the PPP, has repeatedly called for a national dialogue and signing of a ‘charter of economy’ to steer the country out of the crises it is faced with.

Dr Qadri says the country is not under the threat of any foreign war, but every institution and party is in a state of war. “There should be a ceasefire. Everyone has crossed the limit in the party and everyone is guilty, though to varying degrees. All of them should sit together; forgive each other and the country for the sake of 250 million Pakistanis so that this country can move forward.”

The founder chairman of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), which led the 2014 Islamabad sit-in, denied having ever met the former spy agency chief retired Maj-Gen Zaheerul Islam or any representative of the establishment before the 2014 protest.

“Had there been any such meeting, there would have been no problem for me in admitting it,” he says, while answering a query about his party’s role in the sit-in.

“Those who have spent their lives in politics should try to speak the truth in the last part of their life. Because of telling lies, the country has reached this state; now let’s have mercy on its situation and move forward.”

He rejected the possibility of re-entering politics. He says that after 2018, he had quit all party positions and handed over all powers to its elected Central Executive Council.

“I have nothing to do with politics anymore. The centre and axis of all my struggle is the protection of the faith, morals and character of future generations.”

In response to a question regarding the Model Town tragedy, Dr Qadri says that all the cases are pending adjudication and “testing our patience for the last 10 years though the Supreme Court had assured us to provide justice.”

The PAT alleges its activists, including women, had been shot dead in a police raid on the party offices in Model Town in June 2014.

Answering a question about his present activities, he said that he was focusing on religious writing and research, and visiting the Islamic centres set up by his Minhajul Quran across the globe.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024