Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif has said that holding of the long march by Dr Tahirul Qadri just ten weeks before the general elections appears to be a conspiracy to create hurdles in the election process. He said the ‘controversial’ religious leader Tahir-ul-Qadri was on a mission to damage PML-N.
Speaking to media persons along with Baloch nationalist leader Talal Bugti, former premier said that Canadian citizen has come to Pakistan at a time when general elections were being held after10 weeks.
Terming Qadri as an establishment’s pawn or a foreign agent, Nawaz said he is not sure about any of the claims but is suspicious about the intentions behind staging a political show at a time when the nation is looking towards a transition from one democratic setup to another.
Nawaz said national issues are not managed in such a way and that if Qadri is sincere towards changing things, he should become a part of the democratic process.
He said proclaimed Sheikh-ul-Islam wanted to ruin electoral process added that the nation should not be hostage by any dual national person.
He said if Tahir-ul-Qadri wanted real change in the country, he should abandon his Canadian citizenship and take part in the coming elections.
Nawaz said Qadri had ordered his poor followers to sell their valuables like jewellary and motor cycles for the sake of his aimless campaign.
He also criticized MQM and PML-Q for supporting Tahirul Qadri’s January 14 long march, saying that it is surprising that government allies are backing the movement against their own government.
“These parties have double standers as enjoying the rule for five years but at the same time stood against their own coalition.
Nawaz said the long march would create chaos in the country which has already surrounded by severe challenges.
To a query if the Punjab government would take steps to stop the long march, Nawaz said there are certain laws against elements trying to creating chaos.
Meanwhile, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Talal Bugti said that Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) chief Tahirul Qadri is in Pakistan to sabotage the upcoming elections.
Bugti was speaking during a joint press conference with Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif in Raiwind.
Bugti, while speaking about his party’s plans in the upcoming elections, said the JWP will align with PML-N and contest elections.
He said he will be in Islamabad in the next few days for Supreme Court’s hearing of missing persons’ case and will arrange another extensive meeting with Nawaz to discuss in detail their strategy for the future.
He said though there are numerous difficulties in Balochistan but we will take part in the general elections to save our country and the Muslim Ummah. In this connection he said a strategy would be evolved and to contest elections under a one umbrella.