Warning the government against not complying with the demands presented by Dr Tahirul Qadri, the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) on Monday reiterated its commitment to carrying on with a million march towards the capital.
Addressing a news conference, TMQ chief organiser Abdul Laiq accused the Punjab government of creating hurdles in the way of the long march, adding that the Punjab government was trying to stop it by using the Special Branch of the police.
He said the government had hinted that it would not comply with Qadri’s genuine demands, adding that his party was therefore not left with any option but to carry on with the long march towards Islamabad.
Elaborating his party’s strategy, the TMQ leader said the central convoy of the long march, consisting of one million people and led by Qadri, would leave Lahore on January 13, and would reach Islamabad on January 14. He said the Centre and the Punjab government were feeling the heat and were now using cheap tactics to fail the march.
Laiq said the PML-N-led Punjab government was misusing its powers to foil the march and was utilising the special branch of police to harass the organisers of the mass mobilisation of public.
“Not only are the banners inscribed with welcoming and encouraging slogans for the participants of the long march are being removed by the Punjab government but it is also threatening the transporters of cancelling their route permits if they took part in Qadri’s march,” he revealed.
Laiq was of the view that such cheap tactics were being used by both federal and provincial governments as they now found themselves cornered, and were unable to compete with Qadri.
“Dr Tahirul Qadri would present a charter for the long march… within three days,” he said.
To a question, he said his party was not working on any agenda like attempting to postpone the coming elections, but wanted to ensure that the polls were in line with the desires of the people of Pakistan.
“This march will only end after the country’s fate is changed.” On the Election Commission of Pakistan, the TMQ leader said the ECP was helpless and could not even notice the rigging in the polls.
“Even the present parliament is not the real representative of the people of Pakistan,” Laiq said.
To another question, he was of the view that his leadership would give his recommendations to the ECP in presence of the caretaker setup.
Flaying the role of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Laiq said a person who could not and did not want to restrict suicide attackers was occupying the office of interior minister, however, he added that the TMQ marchers were not afraid of any such bid of terror.
