A file photo of Interior Minister Rehman Malik during a press conference. PHOTO: PID / FILE
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said he will not allow Tahirul Qadri or anyone else to hold a rally in Islamabad’s Blue Area, Express News reported on Thursday.
While speaking to the media, Malik said 60 to 70 area representatives met him and requested that no rally should be held in the area.
He said allowing a rally in the area will negatively affect the residents and business activities.
Malik assured the people of Islamabad that no party will be allowed to organise a gathering in the said sector.
Minhajul Quran Interntaional (MQI) chief Qadri had announced to lead a “million-man” march to Islamabad against the current system if it fails to fix things before January 14.
Malik asked Qadri to accept the requests of the residents of Islamabad if he calls himself the people’s representative.
The interior minister accused MQI supporters of asking people for “bhatta” and to take part in the long march.
COMMENTS (28)
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@Sterry:
You do not know ñor read the constitution ñor law of Pakistán....first read then comment....dual nacionalsocialismo are al lower by constitution to live , work , and vote except can not get elected.....
There are Many politicians in diferent parties today who were with the dictatorial so if Dr Qadri is one of them makes any difference....Dr Qadri has only one agenda.....bring electoral reforms...if you do not know what these reforms are ask somone or read his complete speech....as far as why just few months before election.....if he would have done 1or 2 years before....then also you guys will have another excuse....
@Mahmood: Not only does he block business activities by shutting down cellular services, they are afraid to tackle the terrorists who are enjoying the publicity and attention, they are getting. People are being blown to pieces (Edhi workers, schoolchildren, LEA personnel), measles and polio campaign workers are killed, the entire Baluchistan cabinet of fifty ministers is unsympathetically missing from the scenes of devastation in Quetta yesterday, the chairman of OGRA defrauds PRs. 82 billion and Interpol apprehends him, Shahzeb is murdered in cold blood, the Supreme Court takes suo moto notice and then police get into the act. These PPPwalas only want to talk and complete their term. Of what are they so proud? Thugging the country?
@John the Baptist: Bulls-eye! You scored a direct hit.
@Ch. Allah Daad: IK cravenly backed out of his PTI's election manifesto. Backward somersault.
Salams for 2013
Tahir ul Qadri, please go back to Canada.
No body is talking about the agenda of Tahir ul Qadri............all they are doing is personal attacks......Dirty Politics of Pakistan...........
Rights to conducting of rallies, and freedom of movement have been granted in the Constitution, nevertheless these rights are always subject to reasonable restrictions and in certain circumstances can be denied. A rally consisting of many millions participants who are scheduled to stay for an unlimited period in the Capital city, should not be allowed. The law and order situation is very dangerous in the Country, yesterday more than one hundred innocent people have been killed and many more were seriously wounded in terrorist attacks in Quetta and in some other places. If Mr Qadri remains adamant and leads a huge rally, God know what will be the consequences, many people of the view that the Allama has come to shatter the general elections which are going to take place shortly. Will the wisdom prevail, chances are very bleak.
What is a big crime by calling for the electrol system to improve, this another words mean to get rid of the loop holes where the corrupt poltiical elites cut their ways through to the parliament. This wil greatly benefit PTI and other new parties, it will also benefit those patriotic youths who want to join politics or stand as independant. But its a shame how many Pakistanis are falling for the PPP, PML N propaganda to defend the system and by using personal attacks against Dr Tahir ul Qadri it exposes them as why attack a person personally, why not disuss about the electrol system. I am sure whole Pakistan wants a better electrol system, so please CHANGE the system before the election, its ridiculous to believe we should change it after the elections, its a trick. We want neutral caretake government, not caretaker chosen by PPP and PML N , how will that be neutral? May Allah protect our blessed Pakistan. We love you
The big question is why havent PPP, PML N implemented strict anti terrorism laws in the Parliament. Those terrorists/extremist who were caught, where are they? who are they? who sponsored them? whos ordered they followed? which Masjid/madaris they went to? Which clerics books they read? Who funded them? Why dont the government tell the citizens this? The answer is simple, the government just wants to save its chair and by implementing anti terrorists laws, this will annoy their allies who are the west and Saudi Arabia/Qatar and TTP, SSP etc.Please wake up Pakistanis and save your country. The blood of Pakistanis is not cheap. This clearly tells us that we need strict changes in the electrol system and a neutral caretaker government so good patriotic Pakistanis can come in to the parliament. Dont underestimate the power of Pakistanis. We love our country, whether we live in Pakistan, UK, USA, Middle east
@Ali Hamza: "There are already dual national politicians in assembly including Mr. Rehman Malik himself."
Not true. Mr. MAlik was made to resign due to court petition due to dual nationality which is against Pakistani constitution for elected representatives. HE was not the only one. Doz3ns of MNAs and MPs have had to resign for this reason. EC is also trying to make sure that it ascertains that all remaining MPs/MNAs are solely Pakistani nationals.
Rehman Malik renounced his British citizenship and then won senate election after that and came back.
tahir go home.
Pakistan interior minister has one thousand objections to bar any anarchist with foreign residence, to masquerede in cities and residential areas, the most serious being the domestic security.interests. No march and no rallys during the time when bombs are exploding all over the country and the enemies are probing into the border areas. If this task is a big one for the guy, then he should quit.
Rex Minor
Many countries allow Dual citizenship. Its not a crime. Pakistan's best hope right now are the people that are educated abroad, lived abroad for a long period of time and are most likely to be corruption free. Corrpution, Rishwat taking, is like a disease and it unfortunately has permeated thru every facet of life in Pakistan. If you look at global corruption scale, Europe and America top the list in the most corruption free societies. I have live in US for 20+ years now, and NEVER had to bribe anyone once for anything. While I was a small kid 10years old when I left Pakistan, but had seen first hand how prevalent Rishwat is. You need to bribe even the street cleaners Bhangi in Pakistan to clean your street properly. So if Pakistanis want something better, better rulers, better industrialists, better educationists, etc. they have to trust Pakistanis living abroad, and also Pakistanis living abroad have to gain trust in Pakistanis living in Pakistan to do business with eachother. That means prevalance of corruption free society. Foreign living Dual National Pakistanis are most likely to be less corrupt.
Negatively affect residents and business activities? Yet, this very same man will do exactly that by blocking cell phones at will.. Reminder of the prevailing hypocrisy.
@SHB:
Dr Qadr is not the only dual national playing politics in the country....the person ( Mr Rehman Malik ) on whose news you are commenting was also a dual national of UK till he was exposed and then lost his case in SC and disqualified...beside there are still 11 more MPs who are awaiting to be disqualified by SC and EC....STOP them first....who are playing with the lives of the poor people in the name of democracy....you guys including people who are panicking is because Dr Qadri is right.....and they know it....
@Usman786: It's one thing to have protest marches in city areas which are used to such events but it is another thing to have a protest march in the nation's capital when there are anti state criminals who wish to cause mayhem. Pakistan can ill afford to allow such a march in the capital where there will be a chance for criminals and terrorists to intersperse with the other marchers. As for Tahirul Qadri, the man served with a dictator hardly a few years ago before he ran away to swear allegiance to the Queen and become a Canadian national. Where do Pakistanis think he will run when he finished playing the role of spoiler and bringing in instability? Why does he need to do this a few months before elections? He has learned nothing about laws, the constitution and working within a system since living the last few years in Canada.
if protest march can happen on MA Jinnah road, Shahrah e Faisal, Mall and Murree road then why not opp Blue Area. when u ve kept containers opp Presidency When President and PM have accounts in UK and Swiss then why not some1 with red n green passport Why fuel is not available in ISIamabad tonight
@Afaaq: Well, it is quite sad that we the people of Pakistan are not ready to own the cause and agenda of dr. tahir ul qadri who is only standing for the true democratic system in which every clas of society will have representation in the parliament. This so called democracy only owns one percent feudals, gadinashins, capitalists and no one else. So we must stand with qadri sahb.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Why Blue area is so special and rest of Pakistan is not? This anarchist should be deported as soon as possible. I feel sorry for Imran Khan who worked so hard during last five years but someone else is reaping the reward.
Stop smoking Hukka--in one breath you say Qadri is an an anarchist and in the same breath you lament he is reaping rewards Imran should have reaped. Get some medical help, darbari sahib!
All those people who think march does not have any significance and are not supporting it; should actually go to sleep and stay asleep since they dont deserve to blame "no security, high prices, bad governance, corruption, etc" and should expect the same for next 5 years! Wake up Pakistan!!!
There are already dual national politicians in assembly including Mr. Rehman Malik himself..so Dr. Qadri's dual nationality problem becomes a useless discussion.
Martial Law coming...............................................!!!!
The leaders of PPP who keep on about "democracy" are attempting to bulldoze a democratic event. Why can'nt Qadri go ahead with his democratic event? All 'democratic' parties seem to be in a state of panic! Why? The answers are obvious!
but when british national could be Interior minister, why can't a foreign national bring "revolution"
Why Blue area is so special and rest of Pakistan is not? This anarchist should be deported as soon as possible. I feel sorry for Imran Khan who worked so hard during last five years but someone else is reaping the reward.
nice cap.. rehmani boy
He is not a foreign national. He is a Pakistani national who has a dual citizenship.
Qadri should be expelled from the country. When did we start allowing foreign national to play politics in Pakistan?