Model Town tragedy: Asif Zardari, Qadri unanimously demand Shehbaz Sharif's resignation

LAHORE: Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Tahir-ul-Qadri on Thursday unanimously demanded resignation from Chief Minister Punjab over the Model Town incident, ARY News reported.

Expressing support of the Pakistan Peoples Party for the tragedy, Zardari threatened to take to streets and launch a campaign against Shehbaz, if he did not resign following publicising of Baqer Najfi report.

” We equally share grief on Model Town incident and stand by heirs of the victims and the PAT. Such an incident has never been witnessed in Pakistan,” he said while talking to media in a joint press conference with Qadri.

He said he could not close his eyes on that great a loss of lives. The PPP would no more tolerate Shehbaz, he added.

At least 14 people died in the Model Town tragedy or the Lahore massacre on 17 June 2014.

The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians president clarified that they were not talking of dissolving the assemblies or violating the constitution, but only speaking about fighting the government in this regard.

“We made no political deal with Qadri. We are seconding him on fundamental basis,” he said.

Zardari said if Tahir-ul-Qadri ordered, the PPP could mull over any option including resigning from assemblies.

On the other hand, the PAT chief held Shehbaz and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah both responsible for the massacre and demanded their resignation.

He said the inspector general of Punjab was transfered two days prior to the incident to carry out the bloodshed.

“Najfi report has pointed out the murderers. High officials were invovled in the Model Town incident.”

On this occasion, Zardari and Qadri also condemned the US president’s move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“The US President should review his decision of recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel. The whole Muslim world has been incensed by this policy reversal of the US,” said Qadri.

He said the Muslim world thought of the US as a mediator. Trump’s policy reversal had caused a setback to the peace efforts in Middle East. The hopes of a durable peace had been shattered, he added.

“The Muslim Ummah has been disappointed with Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel,” he said.