Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Wednesday night announced that negotiations with government had "completely" failed and Thursday (today) would be the day of launch of his 'revolution'. Addressing his followers after holding two rounds of talks with government negotiators Federal Ministers Ishaq Dar and Zahid Hamid, Qadri categorically announced: "dialogue door is deadlocked as there will be no more talks with government and 'revolution' will start from Thursday".
-- Rejection of Qadri's demands of FIR, CM's resignation helps him strengthen his position or rhetoric;
-- MQM hints at joining Qadri's protest;
-- Dangerous deadlock raises the spectre of violence
Praising the efforts of governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad and governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar towards finding out a solution, Qadri said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not ready to accept his demands. "What to talk of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif resignation, the PM is not even ready to register an FIR against 21 nominated people, including Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, in the Model Town case."
He averred: "The government delegation after the second round of talks should not visit us again; we gave dialogue a chance till the very end. From now onward, no minister or individual from the government side should try to get to me for talks."
Qadri told his followers that they should return to the sit-in venue after lunch on Thursday at 3pm for Yaum-e-Inquilab (Day of Revolution). He added that he would not make those present in the sit-in to stay longer than one day because a final decision would be made today by people. The PAT chief said, "We presented only two core demands to the government ministers and they sought a couple of hours for getting the premier but he refused to accept our demands," he said.
Qadri urged the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to reach the protest venue till 3pm. Earlier, speaking to participants, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan said they wanted to express solidarity with protesters. He said the government should accept all the legitimate demands of Dr Qadri. He added that MQM chief Altaf Hussain also wanted to show solidarity with marchers. He made it clear that the MQM could also join the PAT sit-in, if PAT's genuine demands were not met. An unusual activity was witnessed around D-Chowk where several PAT workers were seen digging up trenches for graves.
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