Women supporters of Dr Tahirul Qadri hold placards during the protest march in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP
Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march and the subsequent sit-in could have seen its end before even taking off if he was locked up Tuesday morning.
However, unarmed women supporters of the Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) chief saved him from getting arrested by police commandos who stormed his bullet-proof container soon after he ordered his followers to shift the venue to D-Chowk from Jinnah Avenue.
The die-hard supporters not only stood between the container and the advancing police contingent, some of them even chased the cops out of the area, said a member of Dr Qadri’s security staff. He added that some men were standing close by but it took them time to reach the place after police’s surprise move.
“A group of police commandos surrounded Dr Qadri’s cabin and resorted to heavy aerial firing. They emptied their guns’ clips and then pulled out their pistols but nothing could deter the brave women,” said the security volunteer. Witnesses said only a handful of men and around a hundred women were present near the MQI chief’s cabin when the police carried out their raid.
Some of the women actually suffered minor injuries in their effort to save their leader from the police, said a witness.
“Tahir, Tahir, Tahir,” chanted the women, standing to one side of Dr Qadri’s cabin, on seeing him appearing behind the glass wall for his Maghrib prayers. Their slogans overpowered their male counterparts’, who were standing on the other side.
“Dare not even think of arresting our leader while we are alive,” a supporter, Shazia Mansoor warned the authorities. She said all women who accompanied Dr Qadri to Islamabad were determined to stay with him till the end and none of them could be deterred by any threats.
Dr Qadri’s “million-man march” was one of its kinds in the country for having a record breaking number of women participating in it.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.
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Every allegation Dr. Qadri has outlined is true. The people of Pakistan are suffering. There is no food, gas, water, electricity, jobs, low class schools. This is rediculous. He is correct on so many levels. If there was democracy in Pakistan the cable channels and electricity during the speech would not have been taken away. If this does not motivate the Pakistani people to change this government I don't know what will. After the next election no one will have a right to complain if they don't participate now.
@Muhammad Nazim: I salute to your consistency too . You and many more are being scanned at '' Web Desk '' .
I appreciate Dr. Tahir ul Qadri consistency and commitment....i salute all the participants...especially for womens.....our womens prove that they can face all challenges....shem for every boy who criticze dr. tahir ul qadri efforts....if you can't participate in this revolutionary march...you have no right of allegations......thats the time to change...we need revolution....
@ Rameez..There is something called humour,ever heard of it?
Shame on u for using Charle's angels type stuff in heading. They r our mothers n sisters.