'Martial law': Rehman Malik asks CJ to take notice of Qadri's statement
Interior minister says Qadri's statements are always against the law.
A file photo of Interior Minister Rehman Malik. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Responding to a claim made by Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri regarding the imposition of martial law in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik asked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take notice of the statement.
Malik said the people of Pakistan want to know why he made such a controversial revelation.
Qadri in a press conference on February 3 said that if he had allowed the participants of his January 14 long march a ‘free hand’, the country would have been placed under martial law “within five minutes”.
Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Malik advised Qadri to hire a legal advisor who can guide him with regards to his political statements.
“You have lived abroad for too long; you don’t know what to say,” the interior minister said, adding that the MQI chief should make comments that are in favour of the country.
He further said that “whatever Qadri says is always against the law.”
Talks with Taliban
Answering to a question regarding Taliban’s request for political guarantors for peace talks, Malik said Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has refused to be an insurer.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) signalled its willingness to enter peace negotiations on February 4 with the government if three senior politicians – Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami amir Syed Munawar Hasan - would act as guarantors.
The interior minister said he will contact JUI-F chief in this regard.
Malik stressed that bullet is not the answer to the ongoing terrorism problem and that the government will respond to this call for talks in a few days.
Responding to a claim made by Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri regarding the imposition of martial law in the country, Interior Minister Rehman Malik asked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take notice of the statement.
Malik said the people of Pakistan want to know why he made such a controversial revelation.
Qadri in a press conference on February 3 said that if he had allowed the participants of his January 14 long march a ‘free hand’, the country would have been placed under martial law “within five minutes”.
Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Malik advised Qadri to hire a legal advisor who can guide him with regards to his political statements.
“You have lived abroad for too long; you don’t know what to say,” the interior minister said, adding that the MQI chief should make comments that are in favour of the country.
He further said that “whatever Qadri says is always against the law.”
Talks with Taliban
Answering to a question regarding Taliban’s request for political guarantors for peace talks, Malik said Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has refused to be an insurer.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) signalled its willingness to enter peace negotiations on February 4 with the government if three senior politicians – Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami amir Syed Munawar Hasan - would act as guarantors.
The interior minister said he will contact JUI-F chief in this regard.
Malik stressed that bullet is not the answer to the ongoing terrorism problem and that the government will respond to this call for talks in a few days.