A large number of people, including women gathered at Tehreek-Minhajul Quran Markaz in Lahore started rolling towards Islamabad almost five hours behind the scheduled time, a private TV channel reported.
“It is a march against ruling plunderers, it is a march against evil forces, oppressors, it is a long march against corrupts and Inshallah we will wipe out these forces forever”, Qadri said before setting out towards Islamabad.
Preparations continued throughout the night as activists of the TMQ were seen placing banners and loud speakers on trucks buses and other vehicles they hired for traveling.
Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday refused to give up his call for long march to Islamabad despite hectic efforts by the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and real estate tycoon Malik Riaz.
Riaz had to face an embarrassing situation when Dr Qadri refused to hold negotiations with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervez Elahi in the realtor’s presence.
Qadri’s news conference that followed the refusal showed Riaz trying to convince the TMQ chief to cancel his march due to security threats, as hundreds of people had lost their lives in recent bombings across the country. Qadri categorically refused to postpone his march, saying his long march “could not be bought”.
Reiterating his stance thrice, Qadri said the long march would be staged at all costs.
Addressing Riaz, Qadri said cases against him were pending in various courts and he did not consider it appropriate to talk to Riaz.
Offering clarification and some face saving, Elahi said they had brought Riaz along as his “speedy wisdom” worked well in such circumstances, but Qadri said he would talk to PML-Q leaders only if Riaz left.
Malik Riaz left the scene a few seconds later, followed by Moonis Elahi, who apparently followed to appease a visibly rattled Riaz.
The PML-Q leaders then headed inside for talks with Qadri.
After a brief discussion, the TMQ leader said he had made known to the PML-Q leadership his three main demands and discussions would continue in this regard.
He said a final decision would be made outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, adding that he would not rest until a guarantee of implementation of his demands, not just promises, were provided to him.
Earlier in the day, the TMQ chief held a press conference and gave his seven-point charter of demands for the long march, saying the march was being staged for the supremacy of constitution and law.
Qadri said the seven points include electoral reforms and conditions for the caretaker government, adding that he was only revealing three of the demands and the remaining would be made public in Islamabad.
He said the historical march would start at 9am on Sunday at Data Darbar Lahore and end at Imam Bari in Islamabad.
The TMQ chief said no decision would be taken behind closed doors and the long march could not be stopped through mere dialogues.
Slamming the PPP-led government, Qadri said the government had completely failed to curb violence, challenging that the government and opposition could not form an independent interim government ahead of elections.
Qadri also demanded the government dissolve the current Election Commission and form an independent one.
“There is no doubt about the integrity of Justice (r) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, but he is unable to shoulder the immense electoral responsibilities owing to his old age,” he noted.
He stressed that the interim government should be formed after consulting all stakeholders and lastly, the results of elections would not be acceptable if they were not held under Articles 62, 63, 68 and 218.
Dr Qadri asserted that inactivity at this crucial juncture would only result in loss to the country. He invited all patriotic political parties to stand in unison to bring the required change.