Two days and counting: For now, Constitution Avenue is their home
After Qadri’s oath, people determined to stay “till the end”, MQI activists to form more committees.
Members of the rally at Jinnah Avenue. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
It is likely that the thousands of people gathered at Jinnah Avenue for the Minhajul Quran International (MQI) sit-in protest to bring about democratic and electoral reforms will stay there until their demands are met.
When Tahirul Qadri, the MQI leader who led a long march from Lahore to Islamabad that culminated in the sit-in, asked the participants on Tuesday if they will stick with him come what may just like Imam Hussain’s party supported their leader in Karbala, the answer was a resounding yes.
No one is sure when and how Qadri’s demands — the dissolution of constituent assemblies, end to corruption, a new election commission, among others — will be met, if it all. But he was smart enough to take an oath from the people who have answered his call for the sit-in to stay.
This means some, if not all, of the around 50,000-strong crowd will hang around till the end and their management is a matter of concern.
The MQI has made some committees to look after the affairs of the participants, MQI general secretary Raheeq Abbasi said.
The most visible of these is the security committee, whose baton-wielding members can be seen cordoning Qadri’s bullet-proof truck and the media enclosures as well as maintaining the segregated sections for men and women on Jinnah Avenue.
Abbasi said there’s also the sound and light committee and there will be some more soon.
“We have only been here since last night,” he said. “We will be forming a cleanliness committee soon.”
Waste disposal is crucial because the participants are eating, living and sleeping on Jinnah Avenue for two days now. So far, separate restrooms for men and women, which were not available on Monday, have been set up.
Abbasi said MQI is facilitating the participants but most people have brought their own food and sleeping supplies. Muhammad Yaqub, a cloth shop salesman from Layyah, was one such person. He was lounging on the eastern end of Jinnah Avenue with a blue duffle bag and rations.
Yaqub said he had packed dates, naan, warm shawls and quilts for the long march in addition to changes of clothes. He was just one of many who could be seen sitting on tents, quilts and sheets along the length and breadth of Jinnah Avenue, with rolled over bedding in tow. Some had even brought camping tents with them.
Abbasi reiterated Qadri’s message that the participants have no intentions of going beyond the D Chowk, but he gave a strong-worded warning.
“We are not thugs or terrorists, but if someone tries to sabotage our peaceful demonstration, the authorities will be responsible for the consequences,” he said.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Capital Territory Chief Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Pirzada said the government has decided to let MQI hold the sit-in and the administration is trying its best to keep the area secure.
“They have said they are not going to barge through, cross over the barricades or attack police personnel,” Pirzada said. “Hopefully they will honour their word.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.
It is likely that the thousands of people gathered at Jinnah Avenue for the Minhajul Quran International (MQI) sit-in protest to bring about democratic and electoral reforms will stay there until their demands are met.
When Tahirul Qadri, the MQI leader who led a long march from Lahore to Islamabad that culminated in the sit-in, asked the participants on Tuesday if they will stick with him come what may just like Imam Hussain’s party supported their leader in Karbala, the answer was a resounding yes.
No one is sure when and how Qadri’s demands — the dissolution of constituent assemblies, end to corruption, a new election commission, among others — will be met, if it all. But he was smart enough to take an oath from the people who have answered his call for the sit-in to stay.
This means some, if not all, of the around 50,000-strong crowd will hang around till the end and their management is a matter of concern.
The MQI has made some committees to look after the affairs of the participants, MQI general secretary Raheeq Abbasi said.
The most visible of these is the security committee, whose baton-wielding members can be seen cordoning Qadri’s bullet-proof truck and the media enclosures as well as maintaining the segregated sections for men and women on Jinnah Avenue.
Abbasi said there’s also the sound and light committee and there will be some more soon.
“We have only been here since last night,” he said. “We will be forming a cleanliness committee soon.”
Waste disposal is crucial because the participants are eating, living and sleeping on Jinnah Avenue for two days now. So far, separate restrooms for men and women, which were not available on Monday, have been set up.
Abbasi said MQI is facilitating the participants but most people have brought their own food and sleeping supplies. Muhammad Yaqub, a cloth shop salesman from Layyah, was one such person. He was lounging on the eastern end of Jinnah Avenue with a blue duffle bag and rations.
Yaqub said he had packed dates, naan, warm shawls and quilts for the long march in addition to changes of clothes. He was just one of many who could be seen sitting on tents, quilts and sheets along the length and breadth of Jinnah Avenue, with rolled over bedding in tow. Some had even brought camping tents with them.
Abbasi reiterated Qadri’s message that the participants have no intentions of going beyond the D Chowk, but he gave a strong-worded warning.
“We are not thugs or terrorists, but if someone tries to sabotage our peaceful demonstration, the authorities will be responsible for the consequences,” he said.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Capital Territory Chief Commissioner Tariq Mehmood Pirzada said the government has decided to let MQI hold the sit-in and the administration is trying its best to keep the area secure.
“They have said they are not going to barge through, cross over the barricades or attack police personnel,” Pirzada said. “Hopefully they will honour their word.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.