PESHAWAR, Jan 11: Declaring the Jan 14 long march of Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Islamabad a serious threat to democracy, Pakhtun Awareness Movement (PAM) has decided to hold an all parties conference in Peshawar on Jan 13 to discuss the emerging situation.

“Tahirul Qadri has no concrete plan as to how he will rid the society of feudalism, corruption and other socioeconomic ills and bring development to the country. The long march is aimed at derailing the democratic process by getting the forthcoming general elections postponed,” PAM president Dr Said Alam Mehsud told reporters at Peshawar Press Club on Friday.

PAM general secretary Shakil Waheedullah was also present on the occasion.

The two said the long march would not benefit the oppressed citizens of the country and would rather increase their problems. They added that the long march seemed a conspiracy against democracy.

About withdrawal of MQM support to the long march, they said the question was that why and how the party had announced its support to the long march and then suddenly withdrew its support.

They said Pakistan was seeing the most critical phase in its history due to the deteriorating law and order situation, corruption and energy crisis but it did not mean that non-political and anti-democratic elements harmed the democratic process by getting the upcoming general elections delayed.

Dr Mehsud said the entire nation condemned corruption, lawlessness and energy crisis as policies of the government were anti-people. He said it was the basic right of the people to decide about their future through ballot in the elections.

He said due to the existing crisis, non-political and anti-democratic forces got opportunity to hatch conspiracy to derail the democratic system.

“The time has come to render sacrifices for the country and protection to democracy,” he said.

Dr Mehsud and Waheedullah alleged that the long march was aimed at creating anarchy in the country in order to sabotage and postpone the elections, but it would be very dangerous for the country.

They said if violation of the Constitution and the law was made through long march with the support of some political parties and secret hands, we would demand registration of cases under Article 6 of the Constitution against all those encouraging Tahirul Qadri in this respect.

“It is our responsibility to pull the country out of the crises as a confrontation-like situation between democratic and anti-democratic forces is being created,” Waheedullah said.

The PAM activists appealed to all political parties along with their workers to attend the Jan 13 APC. They said a token protest march would also be held against Tahirul Qadri on the day.

Shahab Khattak and other office-bearers of PAM were also in attendance.