LAHORE: Dr Tahir ul Qadri-led Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) on Saturday announced to refrain from participation in the upcoming general elections scheduled on July 25.

“We were never a part of this system trampling rights of people,” said Mr. Qadri while announcing his party decision to desist from taking part in the elections at a press conference.

When asked if the PAT was boycotting elections, the PAT chief responded: “I didn’t use the word boycott.”

He said his party couldn’t be part of the system involved in committing crimes in the name of democracy. Dr. Qadri said all of the PAT members would soon take back their nomination forms.

The PAT chairman said the current political system protects the corrupt and suppresses the poor, “and we cannot stand in its support.”

Recalling the Model Town carnage, Dr. Qadri asked whether it was ‘democracy that happened on June 17, 2014 in Lahore.’

PAT has emerged as the first political party officially announcing to refrain from participation in the general elections. INP