Tahirul Qadri, government committee talks continue

ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the committee formed by the government and Tahirul Qadri continue at the site of the Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran sit-in.
According to sources the committee has assured Tahirul Qadri that political parties inside and outside of parliament will be consulted in the formation of the caretaker government. Furthermore, the committee has also assured Qadri that elections will be free and fair.
At the conclusion of the first round of talks, Tahirul Qadri addressed the participants of the sit-in and asked them not to leave until an announcement was made.
Earlier a ten member committee formed by Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf arrived at the D-Chowk to begin negotiations with Tahirul Qadri to end his sit-in.

Negotiations at D-Chowk successful

ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the committee formed by the government and Tahirul Qadri have concluded successfully
Addressing the participants of the sit-in after the conclusion of the negotiations that continued for over 4 hours at D-Chowk, Dr Tahirul Qadri said an Islamabad Long March Declaration had been agreed upon and the contents of the declaration would be announced after it was signed by the prime minister.
Earlier, the sources said that the committee had assured Tahirul Qadri that political parties inside and outside of parliament will be consulted in the formation of the caretaker government. The committee also assured Qadri that elections will be free and fair.

Qadri issues deadline to government

ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e-Minhjul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri has set another ultimatum to the government to accept his demands.
Addressing the participants of sit-in at D-Chowk, Qadri issued one-and-a-half-hour ultimatum to the government, saying he will issue future line of action at 3:00PM. He said he is giving last chance to the peace and democracy.
He said today is the last day of sit-in, adding he want to end this battle before this evening.
TMQ leader said President Zardari would lose last chance of peace if he did not come for negotiations with delegation. After one-and-a-half-hour time, masses would decide their fate, he added.
Enthusiastic masses continued their sit-in despite biting cold and heavy rain in the federal capital.
After the expiration of the 3:00 pm deadline, Tahirul Qadri extended the deadline till 3:45 pm.

Pakistani Supreme Court orders arrest of prime minister in corruption case

The Pakistani government came under attack from two angles Tuesday as the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the country's prime minister and a rowdy anti-government rally took place near the national parliament.

Even by the standards of Pakistan's often turbulent politics, it was a stormy day that ratcheted tensions ahead of national elections later this year.

No elections before reforms: Dr Qadri

ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader Dr Tahirul Qadri said on Wednesday that his supporters will not let the elections to take place if they will be announced without the reforms.
Dr Qadri was talking to Geo News and said that if it is legitimate to lick the boots of Army and receive money from them, then why it cannot be consulted for the country’s larger benefit.
The TMQ leader assured that they will not let the elections to take place without announcing the reforms in the election process.
Hoping to keep the Tehrik Minhaj-ul-Quran’s (TMQ) marchers at bay, a third layer of shipping containers was being lined up between D-Chowk and the sit-in site earlier today.

The authorities in federal capital are trying their best to stop the thronging sit-inners from making inroads towards the Parliament House or other sensitive establishments that fall in the Red Zone.
On the other hand dozens of TMQ‘s stick-wielding activists kept a vigil about the sit-in site all night long.
Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Tahirul Qadri said he had delivered half of his speech and half of the job was done as the Supreme Court had ordered the arrest of the prime minister, and on Wednesday (today), God willing, the remaining job would be done.
In a speech tinged with emotion to a cheering crowd of hundreds of thousands, he greeted the audience on hearing the SC order for the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in connection with Rental Power Projects (RPPs) corruption case.
He offered two Nawafils (thanksgiving prayers) and advised his supporters to do so on the development. Dr Qadri described it as his victory.
During his speech, Dr Qadri clarified that his sit-in was for the supremacy of the Constitution and to pave the way for true democracy as per the provisions of the Constitution.
He added he was in favour of real democracy in Pakistan, and claimed only two institutions — the judiciary and the armed forces — were functioning, and paid tributes to them for their services.

Tahirul Qadri invites Imran Khan to join long march

ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran leader Dr Tahirul Qadri has invited Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan to join the long march on Wednesday.
During is address Dr Qadri said that Imran Khan is against the status quo and is not included among the corrupt leaders. He is also seeking change and that is why he incited him to participate in the long march and add power to it.
He said that if they share the same demand, then Imran Khan should also support him to get rid of the corrupt leadership.
Dr Qadri also invited the other parties to work with him and take part in the process to bring change, as it will be achieved only through the long march.
He continued saying that the Army and judiciary did not interrupt the government in the past five years but the leadership could not deliver anything to the masses. He said that people don’t want the offenders to get involved in the legislation.

Political forces unite against Qadri 'agenda'

ISLAMABAD: As the long-march on Islamabad entered into the third day with Tahirul Qadri vociferously pushing for his demands on Wednesday, the political parties both inside and outside the parliament with a few exceptions also came out with a clear stand against what they termed 'any undemocratic and unconstitutional move'.
The heads of opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief Fazlur Rehman, Jamat-e-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hassan, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and others expressed their resolve at a joint press conference to thwart any move aimed at derailment of the democratic process and stood in clash with the Constitution.
The opposition parties said with one voice that only a change through democratic elections will be acceptable to them.
However, they pressed the government to announce elections before it is too late.
Pakistan Tehirk-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan also announced that his party will not take part in the Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran sit-in being staged in the federal capital. The decision came after PTI leadership held a party meeting in Lahore today.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf appreciated the opposition's stand and termed it a good omen for democracy and future of the country.

Awami National Party has already made its stance clear against Tahirul Qadri's long-march.
Later, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Khursheed Shah talking to media persons said that the general elections will be held on or before May 6 and assured that the polls date will not be pushed beyond May 6.
"The general elections can be held on May 4, 5 or 6 but the date will not be extended beyond May 6," Khursheed Shah said.
On the face of it, Tahirul Qadri is now only left with a moral support of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). It may be mentioned here that MQM had first announced to join the long-march but later distanced itself from it, citing security reasons.

Qadri presents four demands for next general elections

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri has presented four demands for the next general elections and gave an ultimatum to the government to decide till tonight.
Speaking to the participants of sit-in at D-Chowk, Dr. Qadri presented his four demands, saying that elections should be held under article 62, 63 and 218 of the constitution.
In his second demand, Qadri made it clear that election commission of Pakistan should be dissolved and reconstituted again. He also demanded to dissolve federal and provincial assembles.
Caretaker set up should not be brought under a deal (Mukmukah) with two parties, he said in his fourth demand.
Dr Qadri said he wanted to be the caretaker of the nation rather caretaker prime minister.
Giving ultimatum over charter of demands, he said the government should decide till tonight.

True Revolution in Pakistan?

Amidst all controversies, the much-awaited long march has assembled large numbers in the capital city across the country including women and children. The masses poured on the streets in support of Allama Tahir ul Qadri’s and his stance for bringing a change in the country.

Wide speculations occupied media, questioning the hands behind Qadri and his heavy investment in the advertisement. Somehow, the journalists and analysts were not ready to take him seriously and one even went to the extent of calling him “padri topi wala.” The cleric was suspiciously viewed and taken as a Canadian national with the agenda to disrupt the coming up elections that will serve the aims of establishment.

In the past few days, Qadri and his supporters missed no opportunity to regularly appear on political shows trying to clear the air though the rumors refused to die.

However, the scene changed when thousands were seen gathering, ready to spend days and nights on roads till their leader’s demands are met. Terrorism and weather did not deter them from participation.

Apart from the fact that Qadri enjoys his position as a spiritual and religious leader with followers around the world, his demands were victorious in touching the cords of the grieving nation. It was given every reason to stop believing in the current democratic system for the last five years and was desperately waiting for a messiah, which it found in Qadri.

Though Imran Khan also managed to attract numbers in his addresses but he is a politician who intends to enter the same system and then change it. Qadri, however, opted to stay out and challenged the current system, which he sees as corrupt and rotten. This reflects how people are tired of the existing system and unwilling to give the country in the hands of the politicians.

Half of Qadri’s address revolved around hunger, terrorism and corrupt politicians; nothing different from the concerns raised before but his objectives were unmatched. His success made opponents guess how whole episode would be wrapped up and the Supreme Court ruling came as a major breakthrough at the end. God knows what diplomacy was played behind the closed doors but fingers are raised at the SC and the motives of unseen forces behind the decision due to timings.

Well for now, the world has seen the resilience of Pakistanis in difficult times and it seems that sit-in will be an important force in shaping the fate of the tottering country.

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