KARACHI: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced retirement from Pakistani politics and from his party’s post of chairman.

In a video message, Tahirul Qadri said he was retiring from Pakistani politics, political activities and from his post as the PAT chairman.

He said he was not transferring leadership of the PAT to his sons, but delegating power to the party’s council.

Also Read: Awn Chaudhry removed from advisor’s post

However, Dr Qadri said, the legal battle for the Model Town carnage against the Pakistan Muslim League-N would continue till his last breath. He said the Model Town incident was not a matter of politics, but it was a matter of faith.

“Our politics has no room for middle-class. Ruckus is created in the parliament but nothing happens for the welfare of general public,” he said while announcing the retirement.

On June 17 in 2014, 14 people were killed and more than 100 others injured after Punjab Police baton-charged and opened fire on protestors of the party in Model Town.

Qadri had founded the party PAT in 1989 with an objective to ensure the provision of law and order, respect for human rights, elimination of poverty and provision of quality education. He was first elected as the member of the National Assembly in 1990 general elections.