Tag: Tahir-ul-Qadri

  • London plan included Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri and others in 2014, says journalist Murtaza Shah

    London plan included Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri and others in 2014, says journalist Murtaza Shah

    Geo News journalist Murtaza Ali Shah on Monday spoke on the channel’s ‘Report Card’ about the “London Plan” in 2014 which included the collusion of founder Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and Imran Khan.

    Shah recounted that a friend had invited him to his house for dinner and when he went, “Imran Khan, Tahir-ul-Qadri, journalist Mubasher Lucman, some members of Chaudhary family [PML-Q] and two officials were present in that room.”

    Shah stated that the situation got awkward for all because they were afraid “I might break this story.”

    “I received a call from a mutual friend present there 20 minutes after I left that place and he told me that I mustn’t do a story because I already know the precarious condition of Geo News channel due to severe restrictions put on it after Hamid Mir was shot,” said Murtaza.

    Murtaza said that he was warned that there would be more severe consequences for Geo News if he broke the story.

    Murtaza said it is true that “Mubashar Lucman played the key role between Qadri and Khan because at that point there was no common ground between them.”

  • Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is ‘back’

    Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is ‘back’

    After being inactive for seven years, Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has re-entered the political scene, announcing that it will actively participate in the upcoming February 2024 general elections.

    “We shall take full part in the upcoming elections from our own platform and on our electoral symbol,” PAT’s central president Qazi Zahid Hussain told a press conference on Friday.

    Qazi Zahid Hussain, accompanied by party officials including information secretary Nurella Siddiqui, and Raja Zahid, said that PAT candidates will champion the cause of comprehensive reforms in the system, initiating mass-contact campaigns and electioneering immediately.

    Notably, PAT abstained from the 2013 polls but actively participated in the 2015-16 local body elections.

    Hussain clarified that Dr Qadri had endorsed the decision following a two-day consultation by the PAT central executive council. Responding to queries, Siddiqui confirmed that Dr Qadri would not partake in the electioneering process for PAT nominees.

    Highlighting the party’s stance on candidate commitments, Siddiqui stated that once a candidate submits nominations from the PAT platform, withdrawing in favor of another party’s nominee would result in expulsion from the party.

    Additionally, Siddiqui ruled out the possibility of electoral alliances, noting that decisions regarding post-poll cooperation would be made at a later stage.

    Despite being former partners in protest, a party insider revealed to Dawn that any political cooperation with Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was unlikely.

    The insider cited the PTI’s alleged failure to deliver justice to PAT in the 2014 Model Town tragedy, where 14 party activists lost their lives in a police raid, during the PTI’s approximately four-year rule.