Zardari puts weight behind PAT's demand of CM Shahbaz's resignation

PPP-Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday joined Dr Tahirul Qadri in his demand for resignation of the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for his alleged role in the Model Town tragedy.

"Enough is enough... Shahbaz has to resign and appear before the court," Zardari said. "After the [Justice Najafi] report, he stands condemned and a condemned person is not capable of being the chief minister of the largest province of Pakistan."

Zardari made the demand during a joint press conference following a detailed meeting with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Qadri in Lahore.

Dr Qadri had earlier said that the Najafi report held the Punjab government and especially Law Minister Rana Sanaullah responsible for the 2014 incident, in which 14 PAT workers died and 100 were injured.

Former president Zardari said he had discussed the need for the PPP and PAT to work together on Jerusalem issue as well. He said he wanted the United States to understand the repercussions of its decision to shift its embassy to Jerusalem.

"We want to remain engaged with them [the US], but need to tell them that this decision will create difficulties for them, be it Afghanistan, Yemen or Pakistan," he said. "Their [US] action gives strength to the terrorist forces."