Pak cleric Qadri quits politics

Lahore, Sept. 14: Fiery Pakistani cleric Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced his decision to quit politics and resigned as the chairman of his Pakistan Awami Tehreek party. Qadri, 68, who is based in Canada, made the announcement through a video message. He, however, did not mention any reason behind the decision. “I am retiring from Pakistani politics, political activities and from my post as PAT chairman. I am transferring power to the party’s council,” he said in the video message issued from Canada.

Mr Qadri also expressed disappointment for not getting justice for the 14 PAT workers killed in 2014. “Our legal battle for the killing of our 14 workers will continue till my last breath. It is not a matter of politics but of faith,”

Qadri said.

Fourteen people were killed and 100 injured when police raided the house and offices of PAT chief Tahirul Qadri in Model Town.

Later the same year, the PAT chief led an over twomonth-long protest sit-in in Islamabad along with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman (now Prime Minister) Imran Khan.

Qadri founded Minhaj ul Quran, a non-profit providing education, religious and cultural services, in October 1981. He also founded a political party, the PAT, in May 1989. The main objective of the party was to ensure the provision of law and order for the general public, respect for human rights, elimination of poverty and quality education for all.