Pakistan:Qadri threatens march towards Prime Minister's house

Express News Report

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri on Sunday said he would stage protests outside the PM house in Islamabad and hold Nawaz Sharif responsible if any of his workers are killed during protests, Express News reported on Sunday. Qadri said peaceful workers were being arrested and tortured under an ‘undemocratic’ PML-N government. “If I am killed upon my arrival, my workers should remain calm,” he added.

As Rawalpindi prepares for Qadri, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in the city and public gatherings have been banned until 12pm June 24, Express News reported on Sunday.

Qadri is due to arrive at Benazir Bhutto International Airport at 8am on June 23.

Pillion riding has also been banned in the city and mobile services may be suspended in Islamabad and Rawalpindi tomorrow, according to sources.

Speaking to Express News, PAT leader Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi said that the imposition of section 144 will not stop PAT supporters from receiving their leader upon arrival.

“Our organisation team in Rawalpindi-Islamabad were coordinating with the district police officer (DPO) and district coordination officer (DCO) to make arrangements for Qadri’s reception,” Dr Abbasi stated.

“We attempted to organise the reception in a manner that did not trouble anyone,” he said, adding that the police invited 12 of their workers last night under the ruse of finalising said arrangements and arrested them instead.

He claimed that over 500 party supporters have been arrested from various parts of the country.

Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed also spoke to Express News and claimed the police were raiding houses of PAT workers. “Whenever the government says they will give freehand to organise a protest, it means they will create hindrances,” Rasheed said, adding that he will give more details in a press conference at Islamabad Press Club at 6pm today.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry claimed that the government wishes to repeat the events of the Model Town tragedy. He told Express News that the two Sharif brothers – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif – had a hand in creating disturbance. ‘Police harassing PAT workers’