Qadri's APC demands Shahbaz Sharif's resignation

LAHORE: A joint-declaration made after the All-Party Conference (APC) held by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Sunday asked for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's resignation over Lahore's Model Town incident, where a violent clash had broken out between police and PAT supporters earlier this month. The joint-notification issued by the APC participants asked for the dismissal of all government machinery involved in the incident and called to for the president to suspend those who fails to do so. It demanded for a commission empowered enough that could summon the prime minister as well. The notification also demanded for the dismissal of cases registered against the 'PAT supporters affected in the Model Town incident.' Delegations from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) Niazi group, arrived at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat. PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also spoke to mediapersons on the their arrival at the Minhajul Quran secretariat. Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said that the Model Town incident will be the agenda of today's APC. Talking to media, PAT Chief Tahirul Qadri said, “Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s agenda is to overthrow the government.” Qadri also said that APC was not intended to discuss any political move but the Model Town episode with other political parties. Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Raza Kasuri from All Pakistan Muslim League said that the government was setting a wrong example of governance. Kasuri claimed that the prime minister’s speech in favor operation was scripted by the General Head Quarters. “Nawaz Sharif was never in the favor of operation,” Kasuri said. However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) have already refused to be a part of Qadri’s APC. JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq said, Tahirul Qadri should go to court for Model Town incident instead of calling an APC. On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party had condemned the Model Town tragedy but denied to be a part of any movement to topple a democratically elected government. At least eight people including PAT supporters were killed in the Model Town incident. Police had registered a case against the PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and 1,300 activists, arresting 70 of them. They were accused of damaging public property, attacking police, snatching their wireless sets, causing damage to an armoured personnel carrier and creating a law and order situation.