News
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Qadri, Altaf start ‘journey to revolution’ from Karachi
First reforms, then elections* Qadri says Islamabad will turn into ‘Tahrir Square’ on January 14
* Agenda of long march is elimination of feudalism, introduction of real democracy, rule of law and implementation of constitution
* Altaf says long march will prove to be a ‘quick march’ for looters
* Appeals army to support struggle for revolution instead of opposing it
KARACHI: Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chief Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday said that first there should be reforms in the country and then elections.
Addressing a large rally organised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) at the Jinnah Ground, Qadri said, “From Karachi today, begins the path to revolution. On 14 January the people’s parliament will make its decision.” He said that he wanted to return to the people a “genuine democracy”, and added that MQM chief Altaf Hussain has answered the call for true democracy in Pakistan.
Qadri said that Islamabad will become Tahrir Square on January 14 but assured that the long march would be peaceful. He said that he only wants those people to participate in the elections who are permitted to do so by the constitution of the country. The Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran chief said that his agenda is aimed against feudal and exploitative forces in the country. Earlier on, Qadri arrived at MQM headquarter Nine Zero where he was received by members of the Rabita Committee and MQM workers.
Qadri said that Islamabad is going to be the biggest ‘Tahreer Square’ of the world on January 14 where four million people will gather to “demolish the wall of cruelty with one stroke”. He again denied allegations that he or the MQM had a hidden agenda in the planned long march on January 14. He said that the MQM has remained allied to other parties and even supported the president and prime minister’s candidatures, and if there was no hidden agenda at that time then the same is true for now.
Qadri said that their agenda for January 14 long march was elimination of feudalism and bringing real democracy, rule of law and implementation of the constitution in letter and spirit. “No leaf will break and no bullet will be fired on January 14,” he added. While noting that they were being accused of wanting to derail the system, he rhetorically asked which system. “We do not accept the system which does not run under the constitution.”
Qadri also dispelled the impression that he wanted to become the caretaker prime minister. “We only want an impartial caretaker government,” he said, adding that people will not accept a caretaker government through ‘mukmuka’. He said that they want holding of general elections according to the articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
Addressing the gathering through telephone from London, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said that his party had been struggling for years against the rotten system that is prevalent in Pakistan. “People who spend millions of rupees in buying election tickets cannot solve the problems of the masses,” the MQM chief said. “The long march will prove to be a quick march for looters,” he said. Altaf also invited other political and religious parties to participate in the long march.
Altaf said that the “suppressed” masses would decide their future in a public parliament on January 14 in Islamabad. “There would be a revolution against tyranny and injustice,” he declared, and added that the MQM has been struggling to topple the devastated and declining system. He made it clear that the march was not meant to delay elections or to derail democracy, but to save Pakistan. He added that the journey towards evolutionary change in Pakistan has started and the army and other national institutions should support the revolution instead of putting stumbling blocks in its way. MQM leader Farooq Sattar, while addressing the rally earlier on, had said that the large gathering was proof that the people want change. He also said that Altaf and Tahirul Qadri’s agenda is one and the same. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk