The Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) observed a sit-in protests in Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari, Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahimyarkhan and other 300 cities against the elections on Saturday. More than 350 activists of PAT including 200 women joined the sit-in at Multan; they blocked the Khanewal road.
A senior worker of the PAT M.Iqbal Chughta said that the sit-ins are the part of their peaceful protest against the elections which would result 'a corrupt government'. He said that protesters staged sit-ins from 8am to 5pm. He told that PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri addressed the protesters at 2pm via a video link at Multan and other 300 places simultaneously. He said that necessary gadgetry was installed at sit-in places where men and women would sit separately. It is first time in the history of Pakistan that any organisation is staging sit-ins on the polling day against elections. He claimed that PAT is also staging sit-ins in 90 countries where it has its network.
The members of the Minhajul Quran staged demonstration outside Minhajul Quran centres. He said that PAT is boycotting not only the elections but also the entire process. "Even PAT and its sister organisation Minhajul Quran's members have been asked not to vote for any candidate. If any member is found involved in election campaign, his/her basic membership will be cancelled", he added. The PAT leadership had decided not to contest election after its demands regarding scrutiny of the election candidates were not accepted. The party did not have any success in electoral politics and only its chief Tahirul Qadri could reach parliament in 2002 elections.
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