Toronto (Web Desk) — Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chairman and founder of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, has announced his complete retirement from politics.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with anchorperson Farrukh Shahbaz Warraich, he stated that he is fully focused on writing and scholarly work, and will remain in Canada for the next two and a half to three years.
Discussing his family, Dr Qadri said his sons and grandsons have inherited different traits and qualities from him but clarified that he has fully retired from political leadership. Reflecting on his academic tenure, he remarked that some individuals at Punjab University acted like “custodians of Islam,” yet he consistently received more votes from right-wing groups in every university election.
He said he dearly misses Pakistan, his workers, and the nation, adding that the concept of retirement does not practically exist in Pakistan as people tend to cling to power.
Rejecting allegations of striking a deal regarding the Model Town incident and the 2014 sit-ins, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that anyone attempting to “buy” or influence any employee or guard associated with him would fail. He also mentioned friends with left-leaning views, such as Mushahid Hussain Syed and Dr Hassan Askari.
Speaking about his time at Punjab University, Dr Qadri reiterated that he always received strong support from right-wing voters during elections. He further stated that accepting payment for delivering speeches or writing books is haram (forbidden) for him, and confirmed that he will spend the next two to two and a half years in Canada dedicated to authorship and research.
