Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former ally in the protests against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Dr Allama Tahirul Qadri, on Saturday announced his retirement from active politics.
Expressing his disappointment with Imran Khan’s government, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief said he was also stepping down from all party positions.
In a message delivered via video link, to his workers and party leaders, Qadri on Saturday said: “I am retiring from Pakistani politics, political activities and from my post as PAT chairman.”
Qadri’s surprise announcement flat-footed his party’s leaders and workers, as he has a large following not only in Pakistan but also in the UK, US Canada, Middle East and other parts of the world.
In his video message, Qadri he was not handing over the party leadership to his sons but following democratic norms, he was transferring his powers to the PAT’s supreme council.
Earlier, attributing his sudden decision to his health issues and scholarly engagements, Dr Qadri took to twitter and posted, “I am separating myself from political activities of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek. I am announcing my retirement. The decision comes as a result of my heath issues and profound academic commitments.”
However, he made it clear that he would continue to chase those behind the Model Town incident of June 17, 2014 in which 14 people were killed by the Punjab police.
“Our legal battle for the Model Town incident will continue till my last breath,” Qadri said, adding: “That is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of faith.”
On June 17, 2014, in addition to the 14 deaths, 100 other people were injured when police opened fire to disperse protesting activists of the PAT during an ‘anti-encroachment’ operation outside the residence of Dr Qadri.
Later the same year, the PAT chief led an over two-month-long protest sit-in in Islamabad along with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan now prime minister of the country.
Dr Qadri also founded Minhajul Quran, a non-profit education, religious and cultural services organisation in October 1981.
He also founded the PAT party in May 1989. The main objective of the party was to ensure law and order for the general public, respect for human rights, elimination of poverty and quality education for all.
A few months after Imran Khan came into power, Dr Tahirul Qadri got disillusioned and, dismissing his slogan of “change”, left for Canada. Even in his message via video link on Saturday, Tahirul Qadri criticised the PTI government saying he could not see the promised change anywhere even after one year the new government came into power.
