LAHORE: Former President Asif Ali Zardari, MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PML-Q head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday called PAT chairman Tahir ul Qadri to discuss the prevailing political situation and condemned the police crackdown on PAT workers.

Former President and co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari called Qadri twice with an interval of 15 minutes as they indulged in a detailed ?conversation. ?

Tahir ul Qadri explained the details of Martyr’s Day and the Inqilab March to Asif Ali Zardari. On this occasion, Zardari said that the true essence of democracy is upholding the values of freedom of expression while citing examples from the previous PPP regime where no political ?worker was ever arrested neither was any case registered against any political leader.

Pakistan Muslim League Q (PML-Q)’s head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi called Tahir ul Qadri to condemn the police crackdown on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers and leaders on Thursday morning

During a telephone conversation with Tahir ul Qadri, expressed solidarity with PAT and said that the face of government’s fake democracy is being unveiled. The government is in a state of confusion and no matter what they do, Martyr’s Day and Long March is bound to happen, Shujaat remarked, adding that government steps will ultimately make it weak and it will soon collapse.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain expressed deep concern over Tahir ul Qadri’s residence being cordoned off by the police. The government has not learnt any lessons from the Model Town tragedy it seems, he added.

He said that once again the police force is being used to seal all roads leading to Qadri’s residence and the police action is highly condemnable.

Heavy contingents of police have cordoned off Minhajul Quran Secretariat (MQS) in Model Town on early Thursday morning.

Police have also put barriers on all roads leading to Tahirul Qadri’s residence and sealed the entire area.

Minhajul Quran sources have claimed that thousands of Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) workers have been arrested ahead of Youm-e-Shuhada.

Talking to media soon after the police action, PAT chief Tahirul Qadri said that crackdown has started on homes of PAT workers in different parts of Punjab.

He further said that if such undemocratic tactics continued, Youm-e-Shuhada could turn into Revolution Day. INP