Zardari announces support for PAT, demands resignation of Sanaullah, Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah would have to step down from their posts over their role in the Model Town carnage, ARY News reported.

“We are with Qadri on this issue. Bullets were fired for hours together in Model Town, which was also showed by media,” he said talking to media along Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri following a meeting with the PAT leadership at PAT Central Secretariat in Lahore.

Senior Pakistan Peoples Party and PAT leaders were also present on this occasion.

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He expressed wonder that the carnage incident took place in a big city like Lahore in broad daylight.

“We have always supported oppressed and raised voice against injustice. We have relations with Tahir since the days of Benazir. We are with him.

“We demand that Shehbaz and Rana Sanaullah should have to step down and present themselves before the law,” he said.

The former president also demanded that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif should also be tried in Model Town carnage case.

He accused that the Punjab CM and law minister were utilising their powers to influence every case in this regard.

Whatever decision the All Parties Conference will take the PPP will support it. We would hold them accountable, he added.

The PPPP chairman also said efforts were on to save Sharif family’s assets in Saudi Arabia. “Nawaz is seeking help from Saudi Arabia but we will not let him do this again in Pakistan.”

Read More: Najifi report exposed reality of Model Town incident: Qadri

Tahir-ul-Qadri said there was no difference on any point between the PPP and PAT.

He said the APC to be held on Saturday also came under discussion during the meeting with the PPP.

To a query he said Saudi Arabia was not going to get Nawaz any NRO.

“We believe in supremacy of the constitution and will not accede to any pressure. We have autonomous bodies to take decisions,” he added.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said the Pakistani constitution entitled everyone the same justice.

“Neither we nor masses will compromise unless justice is delivered. The nation should witness justice being delivered by court proceedings against Rana Sana and Shehbaz,” he said.

The meeting between Zardari and Qadri was earlier scheduled to take place on Thursday, but it was rescheduled for today owing to the PPP leader’s pressing engagements.

This was Zardari’s second meeting with Qadri in less than two weeks.

The meeting is being seen as part of efforts by the PAT chief to bring two arch-rivals, Asif Ali Zardari and PTI chief Imran Khan on one platform to give the PML-N government tough time ahead of the next general elections.

Earlier this week, the PTI chief visited the Model Town residence of Qadri and pledged full and unconditional support to his proposed anti-government drive.

Both leaders, while addressing a press conference, on Tuesday evening renewed their demand of the resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for their alleged role in the Model Town massacre.

The Qadri-led PAT has convened the moot on December 30 to hammer out a future course of action to press for their demands in the wake of the release of the Model Town inquiry report.

Qadri had earlier warned the two PML-N leaders to resign by December 30 or else he would announce his future course of action, hinting at launching a protest drive to mount pressure on them to stand down.