LAHORE: After a dormancy of seven years, Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has again become active in the political arena, announcing its decision to take part in the February 2024 general elections.

“We shall take full part in the upcoming elections from our own platform and on our electoral symbol,” PAT central president Qazi Zahid Hussain told a press conference on Friday.

Flanked by party’s infor­mation secretary Nur­ullah Siddiqui, Raja Zahid and others, Mr Hussain said PAT candidates would carry the slogan of comprehensive reforms in the system, as a mass-contact drive and electioneering were being initiated immediately.

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PAT had boycotted the 2013 polls but had taken part in the 2015-16 local body elections.

Mr Hussain told a questioner that Dr Qadri endorsed the decision after a two-day consultation by the PAT central executive council.

Responding to a query, Mr Siddiqui stated that Dr Qadri would not participate in the electioneering for PAT nominees.

Answering a question, he said that once a candidate submits nominations from PAT platform, they cannot withdraw their papers in favour of any other party’s nominee; otherwise, they would be expelled from the party.

He also stated that the party would not enter into any electoral alliance, and decisions on post-poll cooperation would be made later.

A party insider told Dawn that political cooperation with PTI, once a partner-in-protest, is out of question because, during its around four-year rule, it deliberately avoided providing justice to the PAT in the 2014 Model Town tragedy, in which 14 party activists were killed in a police raid.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2023