The long march announced by Tahir ul Qadri has taken a questionable turn as reports of people being bribed to join the march have been looming large in the twin cities.
“What difference would it make to the bulging pockets of a religio-political party if I am paid Rs 2,000 to attend its trumpeted procession in the name of reforms?” asked Jamil Ahmad, a citizen who was being chided by others for receiving payment to join the long march.
Muhammad Kashif, a student, said, “Yes we have been paid Rs 2,000 to take part in this march, it is easy to just buy a congregation nowadays you see.” “Loot sale is rampant in this country, why would it bother anyone if we harvest some of its fruits?” said Allah Ditta, a labourer, while pocketing Rs 4,000 with a smile. “I have been paid Rs 1,000 for hoisting a flag for the long march organisers, I’m not the only one taking money for this, all my friends are,” said Muhammad Shakoor, a taxi driver. With a procession that has been paid for, Qadri’s ‘revolution’ seems to have joined the ranks of the regular political drivel fed to the populace in abundance.