Under the plan chalked out by the interior ministry, Qadri is likely to be transported to Lahore via a helicopter or a small aircraft as soon as he touches down at the Islamabad Airport on Monday morning. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
According to reports, the federal government has discussed a numebr of options regarding its strategy to deal with Qadri's highly-publicised arrival back in Pakistan. However, what decisions have been finalised remain unclear.
One of the options on the table reportedly includes putting him under house arrest once he has been transported Lahore.
The plan was finalised in a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to discuss how to avoid any untoward situation upon Qadri's arrival.
Other extreme measures that the government reportedly discussed includes taking Qadri into custody due to his Canadian nationality and not having Pakistani identity card.
However, none of these options have been finalised.
“All options are on the table and a final decision would be taken keeping in view the situation,” said a source familiar with the development.
A spokesperson of Home Department Punjab has claimed that Qadri is facing security threats. He said that after the military operation in North Waziristan, terrorists have announced attacks on important political and religious leaders and added that there is also threat of terrorism at Benazir Bhutto Airport Islamabad and other airports. He added that terrorists can also target the slow moving convoy of PAT on GT Road and that PAT leaders have been informed about these security threats.
“There should be no doubt that no one will be allowed to conduct any march towards Islamabad under the guise of a rally or sit-in,” said interior minister in a statement.
Security has already been beefed up in twin cities and all the roads leading to Islamabad airport has also been blocked.
Meanwhile, the minister has said that everyone is allowed to hold political gatherings but lawful action would be taken against those who intend to disintegrate the government through unconstitutional means.
Nisar said Qadri's arrival at Islamabad at a time where the forces are entrenched in a war and dealing with security alerts is beyond understanding, adding, due to severe security threats, it is the responsibility of the government to safely take him and his companions to Lahore.
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So I guess all those freedoms that this government always champions is out the window now. This is just about the most undemocratic thing going on right now, openly telling people you can't hold a peaceful rally. The taliban threat is always present, the only time that we are safe is when they run out of suicide bombers, outside of that security forces who are sold out cannot protect us, security is only from prayers and being at the wrong place at the right time.
@salman: These idiots will always be happy with this.
@Blithe " He should be put in jail for incitement and money laundering (full stop)."
Like you "shareef" leaders are all clean!
In my view Dr.Qadri is not facing any security threats from Taliban but certainly from the Sharif brothers, they are acting like dictators and why should they not , they are the creation of that despicable dictator General Zia, any one remembers that. If any one thinks that there is democracy in Pakistan, they are fooling themselves, in democracies the leaders do not do murderous things to their people but look at what these brothers are doing to the Pakistanis.
@Blithe: Bro...what about your tax money paying for those new bmws for main sahib. You happy with that?
put this mad man qadri to jail . he is using islaam to gain his personal benefits. people are so ignorant that they bring their women too in the protest.
Whatever the Government undertakes, it will backfire! It is not Mr Qadri which isbecoming the issue but the the governments of Sharif, which the military is already considering to replace with the national unity Government
Rex Minor
Why are shurafa so scared of Qadri???
Pakistani Tax payers money being wasted on a Canadian Fool? Government cant waste tax payer money this way.
The government will topple itself by doing that! They should let him do his rallies and then let him say whatever he wants the more attention they give him the more influencial he'll get. (Coming from a diehard PML-N supporter)
They can't, it will be a mayhem.
If this person have canadian citizenship then how is it possible to allow this man to meddle into pakistani domestic politics? No other country would allow a foreigner to start political parties and get involved into their domestic politics. The only thing the government should do is to send this man back to canada on next return flight.
Who is paying for all this!??
I don't want my money to be wasted on this buffoon! He should be put in jail for incitement and money laundering (full stop).
Why is the govt so concerned about life threats to Qadri and his supporters? They just killed 10 of his guys ruthlessly through Punjab police. TTP is only going to make their job easier.
Is it democracy in danger or PML(N) in danger.
PML-N.......should consult the PPP-Z guys on how to manage Qadri.