LAHORE: The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) will stage a sit-in on The Mall to commemorate the second anniversary of the Model Town firing incident that left 14 people dead. More than a hundred people were injured in the violent clash that took place with the Punjab Police outside the offices of the Minhaj-ul-Quran Trust of PAT Chief Tahir-ul-Qadri when they attempted to remove a barrier.
According to sources, Tahir-ul-Qadri will himself lead the sit-in protest against the Punjab Government. In a statement, Qadri said that justice was not provided to the party and even after two years of the incident a one-sided joint investigation report was prepared. The provincial authorities have ordered the police to ensure foolproof security arrangements during the public gathering and have warned that no security lapse would be tolerated in this regard. Sources said that Lahore administration has given conditional permission for the sit-in protest. Qadri has advised the shop owners and businessmen to keep their businesses open during the protest.
PAT activists across the country are expected to take part in the demonstration against the government. Placards and flags have also been prepared for the occasion, sources told. A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will also take part in the protest. PTI was also a partner of PAT during Islamabad sit-in. Chief of Awami Muslim League Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed will also accompany the Awami Tehreek chairman in the Lahore sit-in.
