Wittingly or unwittingly
Dr Tahirul Qadri has arrived in Pakistan at a time when the country is facing an existential threat from the extremists. While abroad, Dr Qadri might not have been aware of the threat’s magnitude. On Tuesday, the TTP targeted some of those returning home after attending his rally. This should lead him to rethink whether this is the best time to initiate his long march. Only a stable system capable of rendering full political and material support to those fighting the militants can deal with the threat. The terrorists know this and want to promote instability which helps them in the pursuit of their nefarious agenda. Dr Qadri’s march has already created enough uncertainty in the country. The ISPR had to go out of its way to clarify that the military establishment had nothing to do with the event. Any major incident during the event could lead to demands for the postponement of elections, thus helping the terrorists who do not want a peaceful transfer of power leading to stability.
Speeches made at the Karachi rally indicate that the mega event which is being orgnanised at great expense is not going to be a mere symbolic show of force. The rally at Islamabad has been described as a session of the ‘Parliament of the People’ which would decide the composition of the interim setup. Both Qadri and Altaf Husasin insist that all decisions in connection with the 14 January rally will be made by them through mutual consultation. The composition of the interim setup would thus be ‘decided’ by two individuals who have sworn allegiance to the Queen of England, as the citizenship oaths of both Canada and Great Britain require. Any decision regarding the interim setup at the rally would violate the constitution which has clearly laid down the procedure for the formation of the body. Will the two leaders subsequently issue a call for another rally calling it a sitting of the ‘People’s Supreme Court’ to cover the legal lacuna? Altaf Hussain’s highly derogatory remarks about the media are bound to raise concerns. These are not only reflective of a feudal mindset and contradict his claims of being keen to put an end to feudalism but are also a reminder that a leopard cannot change its spots.
Dr Qadri is a prominent religious scholar who has done useful work both at home and abroad. In view of his opposition to militancy, one had expected that he would join hands with the political forces that are fighting the militants courageously. In case he is not prepared to do this, he would do well to go back to Canada to engage in more gainful activity that is non-political in nature.