LAHORE - Calling the former provincial law minister just a foot soldier, PML-Q Punjab President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has demanded resignation from the high command of the PML-N for failing to prevent the massacre of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) activists.  Addressing a press conference at his residence on Saturday, he said forced resignation from the provincial law minister would not resolve the issue, as he was only a foot soldier and the prime minister and Punjab chief minister should resign being the top command of the party.
He warned the government against any attempt to stop Minhaj-ul-Quran and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri land in the country. He said PML-N top leadership would be held responsible for any untoward incident on his return.  He asked the police and the administration not to obey wrong orders of the rulers and PML-N high command, IG Punjab police and other cops along with administration officers would be held responsible if force was used against the PML-Q, Sunni Ittehad Council and other parties marching to receive Dr Qadri on his arrival at Islamabad airport.
He said, “We have issued directions to our workers for making videos of negative activities of the officers who torture and use force against the opposition parties during the upcoming campaign for reforming the system and upload the videos on social media to inform the masses about the excesses of the civilian dictatorship. While the legal eagles of the party will submit applications to the district and session judges in case of non-registration of FIR against the rulers’ brute force.”  Pervaiz said PML-N top leadership would also be held responsible for what he claimed 12 people mass grave of the PAT activists and missing people in the same incident.
He alleged that Punjab advocate general was a member of the ruling clan and no member of the administration who were connected with Minhaj incident would make a statement without fear as long as Shahbaz Sharif was holding the office of the chief minister and he (Shahbaz Sharif) should resign for the transparent probe into the bloodshed outside the Minhaj Secretariat.
Responding to a query, he claimed that new IG Punjab police was appointed to accomplish some special tasks.
Replying to another question, Pervaiz claimed that in an incident like the Minhaj, police could not open direct fire without the authorization of province’s top political boss.