Malik challenges Qadri’s claim of ‘four million’ joining long march

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday challenged Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri’s prior claims that four million people had participated in his long march from Lahore to Islamabad. The interior minister said the number of participants in the long march could not be greater than 25,000-30,000, adding that he would inform Qadri about the actual numbers when the latter arrived in Islamabad. The interior minister also threatened to issue a “white paper” against Qadri and demanded that the latter leave Islamabad on moral grounds. He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was probing the expenditure of the long march. The interior minister said foolproof security arrangements had been made for the long march and the Interior Ministry had provided security for the long march as promised.
Malik informs Canadian envoy about security threats to Qadri: Malik on Monday informed Canadian High Commissioner Greg Giokas about the security threats to Dr Tahirul Qadri and measures taken for his protection. According to a press release, the high commissioner called on the minister. Malik also appraised Giokas about the security measures taken by government for Qadri’s protection. The minister also showed his apprehensions to the high commissioner that people were questioning the funding of Dr Qadri which is being spent lavishly in Pakistan, hence an inquiry has been ordered against him under the law of the land. The government may seek the help of the Canadian government in this respect within the parameters of international law, Malik maintained.