Protest at Numaish: Compromise in Lahore dampens spirit of Karachi supporters

Activists of Pakistan Awami Tehreek gather at Numaish as drama unfolds in Lahore.

KARACHI:

The ‘compromise’ that finally settled the second arrival of a cleric-cum-political leader, Dr Tahirul Qardi, after a gruelling five- hour-long impasse at the Lahore airport on Monday did not go well with many of his supporters in Karachi.

“It is not very reassuring for the activists that Dr Sahib had to compromise owing to the coercive pressure and prevailing political conditions,” said Nusrat Kamal, Pakistan Awami Tehreek president of Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. “But I believe this will not undermine his call for a revolution.”

Kamal was one of the crowd of around 500 supporters of Dr Qadri who had gathered to protest at Numaish Chowrangi, one of the busiest thoroughfares of the city, in the wake of the news that their leader’s Islamabad-bound flight had been diverted to Lahore. The protesters, including men, women and children, held party flags, banners and portraits of Dr Qadri as they shouted slogans against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government, accusing it of ‘hijacking the plane’. Meanwhile, marquees were stretched and floor-mats were placed at the thoroughfare to accommodate the activists, who were earlier demonstrating under the scorching June sun.

“All these corrupt politicians need to be lined up in front of the public and shot, so that our legislative assemblies would have honest and clean people to replace them,” said Kamal. “But in order to purge the country of these corrupt politicians, mass-mobilisation at the grassroots is the first step for which Dr Sahib has personally arrived.”

Her young daughter, Shignaf Kamal, persistently argued that the existing electoral system is futile till the “people’s revolution under the leadership of Dr Qadri” brings the required electoral reforms for a free and fair election of true representatives of the people.

Nearly all supporters shared similar opinions. “Our federal and provincial assemblies have lost their sanctity and constitutional status and we believe that the elections have not remained a solution anymore,” asserted Javaid Alam, another young activist. “Dr Qadri’s call for revolution, on the contrary, is democratic and constitutional as he wishes to bring reforms in order to restore the constitution.”

For Mirza Jawaid Ali, a middle-aged supporter, Dr Qadri will keep the leadership role until the fruits of the revolution are delivered to the people. “As yet, Dr Sahib hasn’t introduced himself completely to the people,” said Ali. “He is proceeding step-by-step. This world will be in awe of him once they actually come to know him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2014.