Qadri announces end to protest after government deal
Tahirul Qadri (L) gestures while talking with ruling parties coalition leaders Qamar Zaman Kaira (2R), Mushahid Hussain (C), and Farooq H. Naek (R) during a meeting at a protest rally in Islamabad on January 17, 2013. – AFP Photo
ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri late on Thursday announced an end to four days of anti-government protests by thousands of people after striking a deal with the government.
A high level delegation struck a deal with the cleric after thousands of people largely paralysed the capital and put intense pressure on the government.
The agreement was reached after hours of negotiation inside a bulletproof container the religious leader was using at the demonstration site.
Thousands of protesters packed into the main avenue running through the federal capital, danced and cheered when Qadri announced from the container that he had hammered out an agreement with the government.
“We have reached an agreement. After getting the prime minister’s signature, we will read it in out front of protesters,” the TMQ chief told his supporters.
Tahirul Qadri, who supported a 1999 military coup, has been calling for the military to play a role in the formation of a caretaker administration in the run-up to elections due in May.
The government agreed with the cleric to dissolve the National Assembly before its term ends in mid-March, giving 90 days until elections are held, according to the “Islamabad Long March Declaration”.
That would give time to make sure politicians are eligible to stand for elections.
The government also agreed that the caretaker administration, which normally precedes elections, would be chosen in consultation with all parties.
A declaration laying out the agreement between the government and Qadri was signed by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf as well as the high-level government officials who made up the negotiating team.
The government delegation was comprised of Afrasiab Khattak, Farooq H. Naek, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Shujaat, Babar Ghauri, Khurshid Shah, Amin Faheem, Farooq Sattar, Senator Abbas Afridi and Mushahid Hussain.
They also agreed that the treasury benches in complete consensus with Qadri’s party will propose the names of two honest and impartial people for the appointment of caretaker prime minister.
On the issue of composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the agreement said that it will be discussed at a meeting on Jan 27 at the Minhaj-ul-Quran Secretariat in Lahore.
It was agreed upon that the focus will be on the enforcement of electoral reforms prior to the polls on article 62, 63 and 218 (3) of the constitution, section 77 to 82 of the representation of people’s act 1976 and other relevant provisions relating to conducting free and fair elections.
The Supreme Court’s judgement of June 8, 2012 on constitutional petition of 2011 must be implemented in true letter and spirit also.
Moreover, they also agreed that with the end of the long march and sit-in, all cases registered against each other shall be withdrawn immediately and there will be no acts of victimisation and vendetta against either party or the participants of the march.
The deal may ease pressure on the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which has come under fire for failing to tackle a range of problems, from a Taliban insurgency to a weak economy.
People had placed great faith in Dr Qadri and he has turned out to be just another deal maker.Imran Khan is now the only hope left. When will he launch is tsumani march?
we people just sitting in warm blanket on front of tv,had do nothing for this reform so we are not allowed to say qadri turned back with deal…imran khan tsunami my foot , he was hope of our country but now he is nothing just “batien karne wali machine” or tu kuch houna nai us sye..
A lot of love stories end like that. The thrill is gone.
All that Rhetoric making people suffer in long march, specially the women, unbelievable how gullible they can be in PK. With regards to Tahir ul Qadri, muslims should safe-guard their deen from this man. He is the last person you want to see if you want knowledge of islam. It’s been numerous times that the man has shot himself in the foot with his own words. One can watch video on vidpk.com if u search “tahir ul qadri double face ” and see word for word flip-flop stances.
what was that all about? do you guys really thing that they will bring Sadiq and Amin people ? How can some one expect from a team of thieves that they will bring people who meet section 62 & 63. I think this was just an other episode from Cartoon network .
Dawn news is also with Qadiri through its automatic rate down and rate reversal system.
it’s a well known fact that Media is a business, they will bend backwards and raise a person or a Party rating and create a facade. If they don’t pay enough the rating goes down. That includes Government’s Billions of Rs advertising revenue which is fed to Media to keep the mouth shut.
Hundreds and thousands of hours are spent in thrilling news. this is not Journalism.
They are also as corrupt to the bone as current Politicians.
If Media was sensible and had not given so much attention this fake movement would have collapsed before started.
He started his compaign with the slogan of a demand for electoral reforms and Mr. Qadri has been quite successful in this regard. As far as the, during the sit in, his deadlines for immediate dissoultion of assemblies is concerned; these were all tecniques to pressurize the rival camp and make them submit to his original demand. I agree that all these things about electoral process- like article 68 etc-are alread the part of constitution, but we already know that they have never been applied according to their true spirit. Now after the conclusion of this agreement and this whole episode of strong public demonstration,it will be very difficult for tax evaders and fake degree holders to find their way into the assemblies. All credit goes to Mr. Qadri for single handedly achieving all this
We the “Pakistan Qaumi Party” are very pleased and pay heartiest congratualtions to Dr.Allama Muhammad Tahir Ul Qadri & The Current Government of Pakistan who participated in the constructive dialogue with a view to Establish the Rule of Law and transparent evolving democracy with the country. We salute all the participants for their tenacity and sagacity in reaching an amicable and cordial Pax Democracia for the bright future of democracy within Pakistan.
While at the same time Pakistan Qaumi Party feels very saddened and disappointed by the Opposition Parties who in their cumulative press conference in Lahore have done their utmost to defile and malign the character of Dr.Allama Muhammad Tahir Ul Qadri.
For & On behalf of
Pakistan Qaumi Party
Mr. Mahmood Ahmad Qalandar – Chairman
Mr. Amir Yaqub – Chairman (UK)
Can’t understand what happened exactly? Or may be will happen in midst of March to May. But surely there’s some black inside Qadri and his mission.
Now that this act is finished, wither Pakistan?
Pakistan is at the same place where it was , if you know what I mean …
It’s drama , flapped drams. Who is director, script writer etc.
USA and Canada (Qadri Homeland)
victory for the true spirit of Dr Qadri and downfall and shame for the interior minister (not fit)
True spirit Negotiating with people like Rehman or Zardari’s team and also agreeing on some thing with them. either Mr. Qadri is very innocent or …………………….
Mr, Qadri appeared like a gueat artist came to Pakistan and sound like he will not back out till he achive his goal. He, however like many religious leader misslead the mass as per direction he was given by certain group. He can be a good stuff for ‘Bollywood’ !
manoj, stay out of it…
Thanks to Qadri that nation knows now that section 61 and 62 exist in our constitution and section 218 exist and peoples representation Act exist, now there is a 30 day process for scrutiny if Government adheres to plan, if they dont follow now whole nation knows that we can insist on these, Media if play a fair role they can create pressure too, now political parties shall think twice before fielding a candidate – I agree not ideal but the awareness has been created and the way qadri was cornered this was an honourable exit – i wonder if some parties would have joined him and media wud have been a bit on his side what would have been the result?????
its actually 62 and 63
Thanks to Qadri for wasting our valuable time and energies. He still failed in trapping IK after so much investment in him.
Why did he do mukmuka(deal) with the same corrupt people he was denouncing ? Qadri and his marchers looks like fools.
Bhai he forced these corrupted people sign for new rules which would ban their types from ever entering the government again
Why people are waiting super hero and try to judge things only black and white or win and lose. Over all qadri Saab march has good impact and let’s hope that gradually we will take our country towards stable, democratic and tolerant state where people will live with peace….inshallah.
Come on guys. Nothing is going to change with this type of deals.
Look at the Arab world to see how revolutions take place.
But these rules were there even before that, signed, dusted and revered, what is the difference now?
These clauses were already in the consitution. Noting new he did.
Are you kidding me..
If the participants of this drama had some common sense, they could have waited till the next elections and brought a peaceful and serene revolution rather than being befooled by this Mr. Bean.
and then waited for any other 5 years and then again 5 years and so on
Hey, don’t compare him with M Bean, at least Mr Bean, makes us laugh.
Now Tahir Ul Qadri may start working in bollywood and become a good actor like Nana Patekar
So much for the revolution..
First of all, This march had atleast some 50 000 people, not a few thousand. It was not a typical, random march** as many opponents claim, his protest march had world media attention and his passive resistence march forced the government to sign for new election rulings. – Tonnes of idiots will call him a ‘molvi’ who hides in a bulletproof container , but tell me this –
Which uneducated molvi can force the government to negotiate a new set of rules into the constitution/election process? And which uneducated molvi can gather this many people and keep them adamant for 5 days like this outside the Parliament?
No one – not even Imran Khan. – Pakistan is full of dishonest people who live in denial just like the politicians. The time will come when you’ll recognize the value of today’s work.
Yazeedi fouj and hussaini fouj leaders in same bullet proof container discussing people shivering in cold outside.
is it not fault of the people ? I think it is , they need to learn how to choose a leader .
I hope U do and If U do, show the nation, come out, leave ur gitar and ur mobiles.
Q.In the end the Winner is??????????????
A.Zardari
No bloodshed no Dhinga mushty. every one is happy. Imran Khan andSharif’s Clean Bold.
I say all of them are clean bold. Regardless what came out of this March for Qadri or Marchers, people of Pakistan need to know who they should vote for a change or the same bunch of people, or don’t vote period if they think none of them deserve their vote. Come out on the street and tell media people that you do not believe the champions of Sham democracy in Pakistan, and this system is “Garbage in garbage out”.
For one thing Qadri is right don’t let the same old people get to the asembly.
It is religion and this poor nation who are the losers. We have lost trust in our leaders, nad scholars because of these fake saviours.
I don’t understand why you think Imran Khan has been clean bowled. He did not become a part of this circus. When the elections are not clean and fair, when the politics and politicians are not accountable and transparent, why make fun of the only man who has stood by his beliefs. I’d rather have a million Imran Khan’s than a single Zardari or Qadri or Sharif.
This whole plot was sketched to somehow drag Imran Khan in this dirty politics. After the refusal of Imran Khan, all the corrupt lot of coalition government and their mentor Qadiri decided to pack up this drama. But the real loser are once again the Pakistani Nation, who watched the whole movie on account of their own money of taxes without any climax.
dirty game play
True
Wow, Tahir Ul Qadri and change? Mr. Qadri striking a deal with Zardari and Raja, that very much complets asix of evil in Pakistan. Congratulation for no change.
A respectable end of a well intended effort by Dr. Qadri. Timings, lack of cooperation by his allies and the weather didn’t help. Obviously, those who were looking for a thrilling end between administration and marchers are disappointed. No blood was shed and Dr. Qadri’s voice was heard. Whatever is the outcome, that is remained to be seen. President Zardari should also be given credit for his policy of restraint.
I congratulate Dr. Qadri for a successful and peaceful ending. No other opposition party including Imran Khan has the courage to do this kind of DHARNA in this kind of cold.freezing weather. I wish more Pakistanis had joined him. BUT this is a unfortunate nation. When the time comes, they go to sleep. I guess, Pakistanis like no gas, no electricity, no petrol, no CNG, no jobs, no education, GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL, YOU DESERVE IT.
Congragulate to Dr Qadri. Shame that Nawaz and Imran did not join. I must give credit to President Zardari to get a deal. It is sad that Pakistanis have no gas, no electircity and no jobs. Pray that Allah give honest leaders in next elections who can save paksitanis from disaster. Dr Qadri should be given some posts in next government as technocrat…
It is a drama for cheap popularity, nothing has changed.
He is a shady character who mingle with lot of corrupt people and appeared with loads of funds from no where. He have some big gain promised in return and is backed up by Military & so called super power. I don’t trust him.