Interior minister says there are fresh credible threats from militants. PHOTO: PID/FILE
Speaking at a press conference late on Wednesday, Malik said that latest intelligence reports suggested that militant groups were planning an attack on Qadri’s protest, where thousands had gathered, demanding the government to resign and install a caretaker set-up.
“If the impending attack comes, that you, Tahirul Qadri, will be responsible for it, you will be named in all the FIRs since you refused to listen to government and intelligence reports.”
Malik warned that there were six splinter groups of the Taliban and while he may have some sort of arrangement with one group, it was impossible to rule out possibility of an attack.
“I urge you to leave by tonight or latest by tomorrow afternoon,” Malik said, adding that if Qadri adheres to his timeline, then the interior minister was ready to facilitate the clerics transport.
The interior minister added that plans had been finalised for conducting targeted operations among section of Qadri’s supporters. He categorically said that the action will not be along the lines of Lal Masjid operation.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira while talking to Express News said that the government will not resort to any use of force but will use talks to resolve the matter, and no person, or organisation will be allowed to take the law in their own hands or disturb peace.
President Asif Ali Zardari though took note of Malik's statement and said that no operation would be conducted, Radio Pakistan reported.
Asked about Zardari's statement, Kaira told Express News that while that is a decision taken at a higher level, the policy remains the same.
COMMENTS (38)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
there is no Dr Qadri rep in D- chowk. its open. Infact saw police/rangers b/w it till Blue area. Why donot you go back to the country to which you belong and transfer back all property to right owners
My brother had to depart abroad yesterday morning and the day before his departure he went to meet his in laws in Islamabad. There was slight glitch in his travel documents and I had been quite tensed as I could not contact my brother on his mobile phone due to the mobile service blockade. Also there was no landline connection at his in laws’ home. But luck was there for him. He contacted me on my landline via PCO. I, simply say thanks to the landline service.
@nm:
Very selfish and ignorant person. What he is doing is for common Pakistanis and not for himself. He is comfortably living in Canada managing his organisation network in over 90 countries and on the side writing books( he has hundreds of books to his credit already). Its a shame no Pakistan stand up for this corrupt system. I saw so many people cry on TV about law and order situation, unemployment, kidnapping for ranson, target killing. When time to stand up and counted everybody sitting at home. Nobody help in preparing the food but get ready to eat up first. Shame on Pakistanis over this thinking.
@Shahzad: Heavy. Nice.
@Imran: You can't be serious. You are with Rehman Malik. On what grounds, exactly?
@Saleem: This is not going to happen
@Shahzad: Keep on dreaming
@Sterry: Yes you are very right. I have been saying for so many days that he should be deported. Charge him the expenses for security. Confiscate his property in Pakistsn.
With the army behind him, nobody can stop Quadri now. If he can bring about change, I am hoping it will have a cascading effect on its neighbours like Bangladesh, India, Nepal etc. BUT god save Pakistan and its citizens if he is a tool to get the Army back to the citadels of power via seemingly deserving reasons and help destroy Democracy. I am ready to believe anything.
Under Mr Malik's logic, he may tomorrow ask all Pakistanis to stay home. If any that came out and were attacked by terrorists, then Mr Malik would lodge a FIR against the victims of the terrorist attack for not obeying Mr Malik's orders. Mr Malik is a genius.
He kind have no shame to say this. It is his job to go after all such threats and nab them before anything occurs. After all they must be having some hideouts. The guy is not at all serious in giving law and order to the country. Just wants to enjoy trappings of power.
Insane government run by kleptomaniacs and illiterate. Without any doubt the misfortune on Pakistan wreaked such a havoc of below standard ministers and advisors. For them the Crow is White. Welcome to PPP.
Topple this CORRUPT INCOMPETENT so called government. Power to the people. Vote for Imran Khan to bring about the Pakistan 'spring'
We have condemned Malik's lies many times before but this time Qadri has proven that he is Ph.D. in lies. He has converted 40 thousand people to 40 million. These are persons, not Canadian dollars whom he is multiplying with 100. Secondly, he does not feel safe in Shahadat Proof Bunker, therefore he is sorrounded by women and infants, which is a total disregard for human lives.
Without change, same thiefs, dacoits, fake degree holders, murderers, feudals will come back to power. No hope under this system.
Opposition never got united on public real issues but today for kursi they are united.
If this Government makes the mistake of using force instead of dialog, it shall be repeating the same mistake that Gen. Musharraf made. It is a big crowd... anything can happen. Even a stampede can easily kill hundreds. Can someone please knock some sense in these fools.
Please guide Mr .Dr. Tahir to save FATA , waziristan and go with their million marchers and order Taliban to shunt out foreigners and stop killing innocent ordinary people. He must also go to Baluchistan- Dera Bugti and Kohlu. He must forget to collect ammunition in Karachi. He should tell them that they will not get any HOOR for their acts. Read out relevant suras from the Holy Book. It will be a real service to RIASAT and poor people of Pakistan. If takes this mission I will be first to join him. He is a Canadian and can not play the role of Imam Khomeini.
I would urge Rehman Malik to vacate Pakistan and failing that at least vacate politics so that we can have a competent individual running the Interior Ministry. The failure of PPP Govt is such that it makes a highly undesirable individual like Qadri look preferable to hundreds of thousand of people.
One think I will say in favour of Rehman Malik; he does make me laugh every time he opens his mouth.
I urge mr malik to vacate his post. In fact he should vacate the country.
@iLiberal: No it's the job of Tahirul Qadri to behave resonsibly and not try to blackmail an elected government a few weeks before the elections. Not only should Tahirul Qadri be forced to pay for the security costs for the Islamabad rally, he alone is responsible should criminals manage to smuggle themselves in and hurt innocent people. I am disgusted that the government would allow a character like Tahirul Qadri to march illegally and destablise the country. We all know he swore allegaince to the British Queen in order to get Canadian citizenship. Imagine if he tried to do an unlawful act like this in London or Ottawa - they would throw him in jail.
@iqtedar; He should be ousted from the government and tried for treason.
LOL.... the ENTIRE government shoukd be ousted from power and tried for every crime in the book!
Maybe the next government will take note and refrain from such activities.
Yes, hippies go home! I've been sitting home hiding from em for 3 days now. Point made. Duly noted. Yes, very bad government, you don't say etc etc. Can we have our city back now. You're not gonna win any fans by being a nuisance; might lose some now.
So Finally he is getting intelligence reports about possible terror attack. Did he not get any intelligence reports about all the bombings in the country for the last five years. or may be he did but did not bother to act on it to prevent those attacks
It seems like Rehman Malik, Kaira, and President are all on different pages.
Shame this man has never had access to inteligence when it comes to Hazara community, yet he has a premonition of attacks on Qadri ! well Mr Malik LeJ have claimed responsibility for the Quetta attack, when will you take action ?strong text*strong text*
ul-Qadri is hellbent on getting himself humiliated. But after derailing Pakistan, he will safely return to Canada to preach religion and ethics.
Fabricating a reason to annul the Long march. But Dr.Malik are efforts will go in vain as it went so far. On the other hand Qadri now in a very critical situation. So far the Long march is going successful despite a weak agenda by the skipper. Now it is interesting to see how this concludes coz people start to loose the zeal and energy they came with; in the march. The Govt and opposition bother rejected the qadri. I Think TUQ has very less time to decide to wrap things up in unresentful way.
Now that Malik has warned Qadri and to prove that Malik was right, there is something bound to happen at Chawk D.
The government should not give any dead line to Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri but instead wait and see as how long he and participants of sit-in Dharna can resist the winter under the open sky.
Any mishandling of the situation by the government will lead to extreme protests in the entire country.
Opposition leaders who have joined hands today against Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri will turn their guns towards PPP government which will ultimately give results what Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri is asking from PPP.
Rehman Malik what about the recent attack on Hazara community, target killing in Karachi, and other suicide attacks? who is responsible for that?
Yes ! He is listening to you, as have the people of this country for past few years ! Time to pack up and move back to comforts of Europe soon !
This clearly shows that Mr Rehman Malik is complicit in the terrorism. He is responsible for not only fear-mongering, but also for directing the attack on Tuesday morning. He is a terrorist himself. He should be ousted from the government and tried for treason.
Agaisnt whome FIR be logged for hundered of sucide bomings which killed thousands of people. What about of thousands killed those attack, who is responsible for that. How can a common Pakistani trust you that you are telling the truth and not just fabricating a story to easy the pressure on your government. The last people that can be trusted in Pakistan are the politicians.
Go Rehman Malilk, we are with you. lets move this canada citizen back to where he belongs.
Kick him out now and stop his drama march.
liar...
Malik, it is your job to stop the terrorists and not telling the people to disperse. Its like you banning mobile phones, pillion riding, etc because you are not competent enough to do your job. Have some integrity and resign already.