Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri addresses mammoth protest rally against inflation & corruption

Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that authoritarianism of the political elite holds sway in Pakistan. He said that there is no democracy in the country and what is often described as democracy by the vested interests is ‘majbooriyat’ to put it mildly. He said that this oppressive system is taking away from people their right to life. He said that his peaceful and democratic revolution would be guided by Article 38 of the Constitution, following which the government of the people, by the people and for the people would be established. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that those who have been obstructing the way of positive change for last 65 years are about to be swept away by the flood of the people. He said that the brave people of Lahore have passed their verdict against the ruling elite that is responsible for plunging them in the fire of corruption and price hike. He said that the presence of hundreds of thousands people in Sunday’s mammoth protest rally reflects their unwavering faith in PAT’s voice of change. He said that time to send the looters and robbers packing is getting closer. He said that PAT would give land to landless farmers, employment to the skilled people, monthly allowance of ten thousand rupees to the jobless, and a 5-marla free plot to the homeless people. He said that ratio of taxation would be increased on the moneyed classes and the members of Parliament. Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while addressing over 0.3 million people at PAT’s protest rally against massive price hike, unemployment and rampant corruption at historic Mall Road Lahore on December 29. He delivered this keynote address through a video link from Canada. He said that PAT would eliminate terrorism from the country in one year, adding that we did not approve of any kind of authoritarianism, extremism and Mullahism. Dr Qadri said that the national resources are being squandered away mercilessly. He said that the ministers of the ruling party and the ‘scions’ of the ruling family take pleasure trips in helicopters at public expense in the name of checking price hike. He said that helicopters need to be handed over to Pakistan Army so that they could further perform their duties in more professional manner. He said that the ruling elite did not learn any lesson from the kings of Russia and France. He made it clear that Dr Qadri’s revolution would be peaceful and not even a single drop of blood would be shed. He said that people would have to take to streets to get their rights. Earlier addressing the protest rally, Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, the President of PAT’s Federal Council, said that the Lahore protest rally is a public referendum against the rulers. He said that endless waves of protesters on the Mall Road were proof of the fact that the days of the ruling elite had been numbered. He said that the oppressed people have got a real leader in the person of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, adding that there was no place for authoritarian rulers in the country. Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that the people of Lahore proved through their massive attendance that the sons, daughters of this great motherland would not rest till the dawn of revolution. Terming the Lahore rally as harbinger of revolution, he said that the huge public gathering was representative of all sections of the Pakistani nation who were protesting against the tax thieves, dollar mafia, corrupt elements and loan defaulters. He said that heavens were witness to the fact that the destination of revolution was not far away, further saying that the plunderers, thieves and looters of national resources would pack up and leave before the arrival of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. He said that Sunday’s mammoth protest rally had a representation of all suppressed segments of the society including the labourers, farmers, teachers, lawyers, students and women in their hundreds of thousands. Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that time was not far when the oppressors would be held accountable for their excesses and mega corruption scandals. He said that Pakistan would only be able to progress when the power would be entrusted to the masses. He said that those who exploited the poor would not have any place to flee. PAT president Sheikh Zahid Fayyaz and Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur also addressed the rally.