SC verdict on RPP: Marchers celebrate to the beat of drums

Feel their efforts have borne fruit, optimistic about success of sit-in.

ISLAMABAD:

Following the apex court’s directive to arrest the prime minister for his role in the failed rental power projects on Tuesday, the marchers’ jubilation was spontaneous and served to revitalise the expectations of the thousands of people at Minhajul Quran International chief Tahirul Qadri’s sit-in on Jinnah Avenue.

Prayers, impromptu dances to the beats of drums and tears were the ultimate reaction after Qadri made the announcement in the concluding remarks of his speech.

Qadri was reiterating his demands when the sudden announcement of the news charged the audience who were engrossed in the emotional speech.

A jubilant crowd of more than 60,000 expressed their happiness and excitement by dancing and chanting slogans in favour of Tahirul Qadri and the Supreme Court (SC) and distributed sweets.



“Congratulations! God be thanked!” and other congratulatory exclamations resounded in the venue.

Participants in significant numbers prostrated themselves and raised their hands towards the sky in gratitude. An overenthusiastic youth, standing  on top of a truck near the stage, fell off and was knocked unconscious. For some time, it became difficult for the security detail to control the excited crowd.

“This will be a milestone in Qadri’s movement which is aimed at rooting out the corrupt and he was one of them,” said Khatebur Rehman Abbasi, a die-hard admirer of Qadri.

Another old man with an unkempt beard passed through the crowd muttering, “Thank God. Thank God.”

A jubilant crowd of more than 60,000 expressed their happiness and excitement by dancing and chanting slogans. PHOTO: AFP, ONLINE

Muhammad Yaqub from Gojra exclaimed in triumph that one by one all corrupt politicians would be kicked out like this now.

“We don’t have the words to express our happiness, this is the first step towards making this country free of corrupt leaders,” said Hafsa Anum and Iqra Khalid, students of Minhaj-ul-Quran.

Mussarat from Islamabad said, “The SC decision has renewed our resolve and given us hope. Now we are very close to our destination and will succeed in our objectives, Insha Allah.”



Crooked politicians have deprived people of their basic rights to education, health and employment, she added.

Ansa Amjad from Narowal was of the view that, “The SC decision clearly reflects that justice will prevail in this country and there is someone who feels the pain of 180 million people.”

Shabana from Gojra also expressed her happiness over the decision.

“After the firing and shelling incident in the morning some of the participants were feeling a bit depressed,” she stated.

But this news made our day and helped us forget all the pain and trouble we faced in coming here.”

barge through, cross over the barricades or attack police personnel,” Pirzada said. “Hopefully they will honour their word.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2013.