PML-Q to join PTI protest: Pervaiz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said the PML-Q will participate in the lockdown protest of PTI to eliminate the government based on lies and corruption.

He said rulers have still time to surrender for accountability; otherwise, they will not have any place to hide themselves in the country. Addressing the PML-Q leaders and activists from across the province at Muslim League House on Thursday, Pervaiz Elahi said the West had adopted the teachings of Islam regarding speaking the truth following which Prime Minister of Iceland and two presidents of America had resigned.

The PML-Q leaders, including Ch Zaheer-ud-Din, Tariq Bashir Cheema, Raja Basharat, Moonis Elahi and Imran Masood were also present in the meeting. Ch Pervaiz Elahi said his party would reach Islamabad on 2nd of November for supremacy of truth and righteousness and it was the true patriotism. He went on to say it was not the question of Imran Khan’s call but the question of saving nation and country. He also said there was no need of invitation card for the solidarity and security of Pakistan. The PML-Q’s provincial president further claimed that Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad and Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen would also participate in the PTI dharna. Motivating his party leaders and workers, Pervaiz Elahi took promise from youths and the elderly to save Pakistan.

He announced getting separate place in the sit-in to show their presence with party flags. He said it was the right time for the party to get active for the upcoming elections. Raja Basharat addressing the convention criticised Maula Bakhsh Chandio on his statement saying PPP had no place in Punjab. He said a visible change could be seen after the party leadership became active once again to save the country. Ch Pervaiz Elahi held rulers responsible for the conspiracy against the national security institutions.

Ch Zaheer on this occasion said Pervaiz Elahi is a role model for the nation and party workers. He said he is the man who announced free education up to matric, free medicines in hospitals and established Rescue 1122 but the PML-N government instead of improving these sectors had constantly been bringing deterioration to these institutions.

He warned to target officers if any of them even tried to arrest the PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi or any worker of the party. He said the corruption of rulers had been exposed in the shape of Panama Leaks.

Major (r) Tahir Sadiq addressing the party leaders and workers said had the party decided to become active in 2008, it would not have allowed the PML-N to come into government. He also criticised the coalition of the party with PPP. He said if the party leaders and workers did not come out on this critical time, the country would be forced into darkness. He said the party workers and leaders should not afraid of being jailed. He convinced leaders to announce the number of workers from their regions and the amount to manage the expenses during lockdown strike.

Tariq Bashir Cheema said the activists should not get worried over arrests as the leadership would stay along with them throughout the protest. He warned to stage sit-ins wherever the administration and police would try to stop them. He said the PML-Q was ready for accountability under the same TORs. He tasked the workers to arrange ration for one week. He warned if they were stopped the entire country would be locked down. He said the PML-Q would choose the toughest place out of the 12 places designated to lockdown Islamabad. 

Pervaiz Elahi condemned in very strong words police and FC attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Youth Wing in Islamabad. He said the attack had exposed "democracy" of the government, history of 1977 was being repeated through torture and violence on women, the rulers through tactics themselves were spreading lawlessness in country, by playing ‘holi’ with the blood of unarmed and peaceful women and political workers they had proved this they had no respect for “Chadar Aur Chardeevari” nor there was any importance of human blood, because of this PTI's peaceful women and workers had been baton charged, dragged around and tortured. He said torture and arrests could not frighten political workers.