PESHAWAR: Activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Saturday took out a car rally here on Saturday demanding justice against the murder of party workers in Model Town Lahore in 2014 and urged Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to investigate the tragic incident. The rally was led by provincial president PAT Khalid Mehmood Khan. A large number of male and female party workers and activists attended the rally. Workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also participated in the rally. The rally started from Hashtnagri area of provincial capital passed through Qayyum Stadium in Saddar area and finally turned into a gathering outside Peshawar Press Club. The participants were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans like ‘we want justice’ against the Punjab Government for killing innocent party workers during a clash in June 2014. They were also chanting slogans against the provincial government and termed their killing extra-judicial. They also demanded of the army chief to help PAT bring culprits to justice. The protesters criticized the Punjab and Federal governments for leaving them with no other option but to take to streets and protest for justice. “We opt for legal ways to get justice for our martyred brothers and sisters and would continue until we get it,” said Zainab Israr, a female participant of the rally. She said a worst tyrant would not commit such atrocities as so-called champions of democracy had committed against PAT workers in Lahore. The participants also blocked the road for half an hour causing worst traffic jam. Speaking on the occasion, speakers slammed the Punjab and federal government for killing innocent and unarmed citizens. PAT provincial president demanded a thorough and fair investigation of the tragedy under the supervision of COAS. He said that those found guilty of committing the heinous crime should be tried in military courts and should be hanged under anti-terrorism act. He said that the plan was made by the chief minister, law minister of the Punjab province and the prime minister that was executed through police officers of senior and lower ranks. “I am of the opinion that there is no need of investigation, video footages are available showing how brutally PAT workers, both male and female, were massacred without committing a crime,” he stated. He stated that people especially PAT workers have lost trust in current judicial set up.
