Tehreek Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced an end to the sit-in of his supporters at Parade Avenue after he reached an understanding with the government over electoral reforms.
Ceding some of his demands, Qadri agreed to the government’s offer to dissolve assemblies before March 16 and hold elections within 90 days. He also submitted to the government’s refusal to dissolve the Election Commission for which the government suggested that he move the Supreme Judicial Council. However, Qadri claimed that the government would reconsider the EC issue in a meeting on Jan 27. The government also refused to entertain Qadri’s demand of involving the military in the negotiations over the caretaker setup.
The deal, signed by the government committee and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also states that the Election Commission would take a month’s time to scrutinize the documents of election candidates and no candidate would be allowed to start his election campaign until he’s given a green chit by the EC.
The deal also calls for selection of election candidates according to Articles 62, 63 and 218 (Section 3) of the Constitution and no person involved in criminal activities would be allowed to contest polls. The government has also agreed to consider two names proposed by Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek for caretaker prime minister.
The government has also withdrawn the case registered against Dr Qadri and 20 others by the Kohsar Police on various charges.
Addressing his supporters, Qadri thanked them for their determination in holding the “biggest march in Pakistan’s history”. He appreciated the efforts of the government committee in defusing the standoff but criticized Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s role in the entire episode.
Commenting on the ‘Islamabad Long March Declaration’, noted lawyer Athar Minallah tweeted: “The agreement is void ab initio and against the constitution thus a nulity and without legal effect. People have been ably fooled.”