Minhajul Quran International Chief and Sheikhul Islam
Allama Dr Tahirul Qadri attracted an awe-inspiring crowd at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore on Sunday, as he urged the people
to stand up for real change and warned the government of mending its ways within three weeks or else be ready for ouster.
With a slogan of “save the state, not politics”, Qadri gave his opponents, and critics, a wake up call on a chilly Sunday afternoon as he addresses hundreds of thousands of people at the historic venue. It was the biggest political gathering in the city of late, with conservative number of attendants estimated at a million people. The firebrand scholar gave the government three weeks, or a deadline of January 10, to install a caretaker setup, implement electoral reforms and run the country’s affairs in light of the constitution. Threatening to hold a mammoth rally of four million people in Islamabad on January 14 if his demands were not fulfilled, Qadri tested the rally participants with questions of supporting him to the end. “Will you march to Islamabad with me?” he queried, and a thundering “yes” was the response. Qadri said the attendance of people at the gathering has proven that the people had rejected the cruel and injustice system and they wanted change. He said he was striving to eradicate the rule of feudalism and the tyrant system in the country to build “a new Pakistan”. He rejected any intervention by the army, saying he would be the first to oppose if such a move was ever made. “If the system is run properly, the army will not interfere.” The Minhajul Quran chief said there was no role of foreigners or agencies behind the gathering, and people had themselves turned up to listen to him.“Corruption is one of the major reasons of the poor state of the economy,” Qadri said, adding that he did not have any other agenda but to see implementation of electoral reforms that guaranteed fair and transparent polls.
He said the masses would not accept the results of the polls if the reforms were not implemented, adding that the caretaker setup should also involve members of the judiciary and army besides political leaders.
The Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief also underscored the importance of an independent judiciary in the effort to change the system. “The orders of the Supreme Court are not being implemented.” Qadri said the system of exploitation and oppression should end in a peaceful manner, and slammed the government for turning the country into a safe haven for terrorists.
“If a government cannot maintain law and order, it is unconstitutional and unlawful and we are not willing to accept it,” he added.
Appealing to the militants, Qadri called on them to give up their arms. He said he would support those who were against drone attacks and violation of the country’s sovereignty, and in return ask them to stand with him to protect mosques, imambargahs and innocent people.
He thanked the workers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and general public for making the rally successful.
He also thanked MQM chief Altaf Hussain for cooperating with him, saying he had sent a delegation of 50 people to the rally. staff report
MAN OF THE MOMENT
