Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday called Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march successful, adding that the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chief won the show.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on Samaa News, the PML-Q president said, “When I went to Dr Tahirul Qadri to congratulate him on his rally on December 23, 2012, at Minar-e-Pakistan, Dr Qadri invited me on dinner at his house. We didn’t talk about long march.”
Shujaat also said, “When we were there at his house he told us about how he made his party schools and institutions in different places of the world. It was not a formal conversation.”
“Situation would have worsened if the government had decided to use force to end the march,” he said.
To a question, the PML-Q president said Dr Qadri became an “instant hit” within no time due to which his opponents were making allegations.
Chaudhry Shujaat added, “I refused to go alone for talks and demanded a team of government’s ministers. We took MQM members too with us. We were 10 leaders who went to hold talks with Dr Qadri.
The PML-Q leader said, “Because I was sensing the same condition I felt during Lal Masjid situation he told. He also said that I told the PM that the team should be given right to take decision. To a question, he said, “We have disputes with Zardari only “When I came to know about the government’s plan to use force, I advised President Zardari against taking such step,” he added.