Quelling speculation: US not behind Dr Qadri’s long march, says Hoagland

US diplomat says US doesn’t support any single political party or individual, including Dr Qadri; UK denies support.

ISLAMABAD:

With speculation rife as to who is backing the Minhaj-ul-Quran International chief, a US diplomat said on Saturday that his country doesn’t support any single political party or individual, including Dr Tahirul Qadri.     

Dr Qadri is scheduled to lead a “million-man march” to the federal capital on January 14, if his demand for sweeping election reforms were not met by the incumbent coalition government. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a key government ally, has also lent him support.

Top politicians have accused Dr Qadri of attempting to delay the upcoming parliamentary elections in an effort to derail the democratic system in the country. They also believe that Dr Qadri is doing someone else’s bidding.

Talking to the media after attending a function in Islamabad, US deputy chief of mission Ambassador Richard Hoagland said the United States supports democracy and free polls in the world.

Britain also clarified that it does not support Dr Qadri’s political mission, and termed it Pakistan’s “internal matter”.

In a statement‚ the British High Commission said: “London does not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs. We do not support Dr Qadri and will not interfere in any internal matter of Pakistan.”

The statement was released by the High Commission of United Kingdom in response to growing concerns in Pakistan that the international community is ‘lobbying’ for the emerging political and religious figure in Pakistan.

The high commission further said that it is the prerogative of Pakistan’s masses to elect their representatives in accordance to their Constitution. “We do not want political instability in the country. We will continue to support parliamentary democracy in Pakistan,” the statement added.



Dr Qadri’s scheduled rally, which was initially downplayed by the government, has created quite a stir in political circles. On Friday, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf called up PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan in an effort to enlist their support for the system.

The government’s point-man for internal security, meanwhile, said Dr Qadri rally would be welcomed in the capital. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday that he would soon meet with Dr Qadri to convey threats of terrorist attacks on participants of his scheduled “long march”.

On a related note, Ambassador Hoagland also said that it was for the Pakistan government to launch a military operation in North Waziristan Agency where, according to US officials, al Qaeda and its tribal cohorts have found a “safe haven”.

About US financial assistance to Pakistan, Hoagland said that the Barack Obama administration was not satisfied with the mechanism of the Coalition Support Fund and would improve it in the future.

Earlier, while addressing the International Business Plan Competition finals, organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Ambassador Hoagland reaffirmed the US administration’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting individual entrepreneurs throughout Pakistan. “Entrepreneurship is vital to Pakistan’s future, and we are here to support you,” he said.

He also highlighted a series of initiatives taken by the US government to promote entrepreneurship, and generate economic growth in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.