Dr Tahirul Qadri arrives at a public gathering in Karachi on January 1, 2013. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
The rally titled “Safar-e-Inqilab-e-Pakistan” was held at Jinnah Ground and was also addressed by MQM chief Altaf Hussain via telephone from London.
During the rally, Qadri thanked Altaf and the MQM for accepting his party's invitation to join the "million-man march" to Islamabad in order to "give rights back to the poor".
Qadri said that he had invited all religious and political parties of the country to join the march but only the MQM responded positively.
Qadri announced his party’s manifesto during the rally and said that Islamabad was about to become Tahrir Square on January 14. But, he stressed, the revolution will be peaceful.
Responding to allegations of being backed by a “foreign agenda”, Qadri said that those spreading this “propaganda” were liars. “My mission is to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan. My mission is to restore Jinnah’s true democracy.”
He also denied allegations of a hidden agenda behind the fact that the MQM was supporting him. “There is no agenda behind us. Our agenda is ahead of us... Our agenda is January 14, our agenda is the elimination of feudalism and capitalism.”
“We want a caretaker government which is totally impartial, powerful and honest and possesses the courage and the political will to bring electoral reforms,” he stated.
Qadri dispelled rumours that he initiated the movement to pave way for becoming the caretaker prime minister. “The purpose of this movement is to bring a totally impartial caretaker government.”
He said that his party wants elections to be contested between people who are declared eligible by the Constitution.
“I want to tell the national institutions of Pakistan and the 180 million people: we do not deny politics. This address is for the sake of restoration of clean politics.”
Earlier during the day, Qadri was welcomed by a large number of his party workers on his arrival at the Karachi airport. Qadri had then visited MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, where he met with the party’s coordination committee.
Qadri also spoke to Altaf on the phone during his visit to Nine-Zero.
Qadri, who returned to Pakistan after a five-year-stay in Britain, has set a three-week deadline for the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government for electoral reforms, or face a “million-man march” on January 14. The deadline was announced in a huge rally arranged in Lahore on December 23.
Altaf appeals to army to support march
Altaf, addressing the rally, appealed to the armed forces of the country to support the “revolution” instead of trying to hinder it.
“I also ask all other institutions of the country to stand with us,” he said, while requesting the Punjab government to provide security to Qadri.
Altaf said that only those people can find solution to problems who have themselves gone through them. “Our public march is not meant to delay elections or to derail democracy. In fact, this public march is meant to save Pakistan; to seek reform in Pakistan’s electoral system according to the Constitution and to make the country stronger and prosperous.”
Altaf said that he has found an elder brother in the form of Tahirul Qadri in his effort to give the poor their rights.
COMMENTS (44)
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its another amercan agent named tahirulqadri working on the amercan hidden agenda pakistani media wants to open all his hiden activites
ULAMA TAHIR UL QADARI is highly educated,constitutional Expert,who wrote hundreds of books of high calabour,recognised world wide.He is not and cannot be compared by the dump polititions of Pakistan.who form a big majority in the Govt at Present.
When he says of the bare facts of the failure of the present electoral system. Public and Politions should take full notice of all the facts of his lecture to the people of pakistan.
After all he is not a fool or demented as the politions make you believe and are trying to Save their skin or their sins and their coroption.
GOD SAVE US FROM THESE POLITITIONSon 14 the world will only see the big mess
@ Lahoria, who are the new rulers??? When there are very few Good Rulers how will the run the country?? A lot of People don't like Tahir ul Qadri, Regardless of his personality, We need to think his point of view to bring Patriotic care takers Govt to do the accountability and clean up the political mess and put the country in right direction. I think that's what Qadri is demanding, otherwise same corrupt Politics would come and do the same as current Govt. So think!!
**YOU CANT FOOL US ANYMORE**Its very clear to us now ,they cant fool us again and again, there is so much "Put on" by Dr.Kadri. Joining hands with MQM at this very particular time,where elections are due this year. We all get the point of cutting down PMLN rolls by welcoming another Martial law in the country. Everyone know now that in year 2013 chief justice,chief of army, is getting retired. so here is another plan to do the same with Punjab is what they are doing with Sindh!. No one is coming out i believe!!
@Umar: do some research before commenting to make you statement believable.
@Mannan: Do some research homework before commenting.
Two half Pakistanis don't make a whole Pakistani.....they remain half Pakistanis........and that's not good enough.
I'm really supportive of this new change - I wasn't much into politics until Qadri Sahib came into the picture. So far, everything he has done is legitimate and not against the Qur'an, Sunnah or the Consitution of Pakistan. Just the fact that he is inviting all parties like MQM, PPP, PMLN, PMLQ and PTI shows his love for the country and no personal agenda. Walk in the streets of Pakistan and you will see the massive support he is getting from the common man. They believe in him as do I. Long Live Dr Sahib.
v support u dr saab...
yes..he is a man of action...m not his party member.m just a pakistani...n after watchn his interviews..i hav decided dat i will join him on long march?revolution is at da door...v all shud unite n bang it...nationality doesnt define loyality...n he has explained it so many tyms..i wonder ppl r so mentally sick...come on guys dose hu r paki nationals...wot r dey doing? killing each other,tax chori,bijli chori...dey r making dis country HELL...go on Dr.saab v youth r wid u n may Allah bless u wid gud health n protects u...ameen
I dont know why people are so negative about any change!!
Tahir ul Qadri speaks about the constitution of Pakistan !
i cant believe how people can disagree with him...
everyone is talking about his dual nationality which the constitution of pakistan allows ! if it was not allowed in constitution then i would have been against him too... long live TAHIR UL QADRI... 14th Jan will prove to be a real and positive change for pakistan inshallah !
Yankee Jihad from Egypt, Libya and Syria now coming to Pakistan soon.
Elections will not change anything in Pakistan, anything... Thosw ho think it will, live in a fool's paradise, unfortunately. The status-quo mafia is too strong.
@Ijaz Ahmad: Yes very brave, see how he deployed inches of bullet proof glass between him and 'his people' ..
Dr. Tahir ul Qadri is great leader. Pakistani people is lucky who got a brave and great leader as Dr. Tahir ul Qadri.
Wassalam
''Qadrii, who returned to Pakistan after a five-year-stay in Britain'' This is suspicious.Why did he came after five year? Why did he thinks about a rally at election times? Why with MQM? Maybe he has a bigg plan in his brian. By the way he has been in London for five years so he has spent his time to think/plan Pakistans future with some kuffar agents. It's very disgusting that he call himself shayk-ul-islam. People now at days can call themself what ever they want.There us something behind this face.
This is not the way to save Pakistan. This march will lead to chaos and confusion. MQM has been a part of the Musharraf regime and allied with PPP. Why was MQM sleeping for the past 15 years over the issues raised by Dr.Qadri? This Altaf-Qadri alliance will harm them both - Altaf more, Qadri less. MQM should let Dr.Qadri do it alone and elections should be held on time even if 4 million or 4 billion people gather in Islamabad.
One Canadian (Tahir) and one Britain (Altaf) are talking about revolution? This is a newer and latest version of East India Company.
Go on man. Qadri Sb. we are with You.
When you come out you will see it will not be only 4 million people instead there will be more than 10 Million ( 1 Caror ) people on the streets.
Go man Go on with pride & speed and throw these cronies out of Islamabad.
Allah be with You.
Next will be a long march by Taliban. TQ is promising a peaceful march, Taliban's march will promise peace.
The only common thing between TQ and MQM is that they are both die hard anti nawaz. I rest my case who brought TQ suddenly three months before the elections.
Chaudhry brothers of Gujrat have also joined TQ. Its clear now that who is the director of this show?
Just a propaganda to keep Nawaz Sharif at the back stage. Ugly Politics by Tahir ul Qadri & especially from the parties who're in the government.
hahaha. A person comes from an other country then succeeds in arranging such a great rally so fastly. Dont you think about the hands of agencies behind him???? wake up.
march along with mqm and pml q ....
Tahirul Qadri addressed that according to constitution only trust worthy and truth teller are eligible to content elections and people having such characteristics join him to bring revolution. Altaf hussain and Ch. Shujjat has announced to join this so called revolutionary long march. My question is, who is trust worthy Altaf hussain or Ch. Shujjat? at the same time both are enjoying the power. So shameful.
Yet another self-proclaimed holier-than-thou evangelist using religion to sell his politics. This is exactly the root cause of all problems in Pakistan.
we support you man.
Another political hoax, It took him 5 years to realize that the system is corrupted and needs to be changed. The million that marches to Islamabad will probably buy the establishment agenda for reforms. I hope that people will not be fooled by the rhetorics and choose able leaders through transparent elections. Military establishment and Judges dont represent the will of Pakistani's and have no right to select inviduals whose tenure can be extended to fulfil the constitutional requirements.
Million man march to Islamabad to give poor people rights? How about getting all your followers who are supposedly contributing millions to your rallies to pay their taxes?
Its Canada not Britain.
HOGWASH...!!!!
a man is known by the company he keeps.