Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 26 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 1/18/13

Islamabad sit-in ends after agreement with govt

By       (Page 2 of 2 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   No comments
Message Abdus-Sattar Ghazali
Become a Fan
  (11 fans)

Qadri portrays himself as a reformist cleric bent on ensuring that Pakistan's current corps of politicians, which he asserts is steeped in corruption, isn't allowed to stand for election in national polls. He has won praise in the West for his condemnation of terrorism and promoting anti-Wahabi Barelvi brand of Islam. But like most religious party leaders, he has won scant support from voters in past elections. He launched a political party in 1989 but was able to win a parliamentary seat only in the 2002 elections that were widely seen as tailored by the then military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf, to suit his own political aims.

In 2006, Qadri announced that he was disillusioned with the country's political scene, moved to Canada and obtained citizenship there.  His sudden return to Pakistan in mid-December surprised the nation, and his speech in Lahore on Dec. 23 denouncing rampant corruption at all levels of government galvanized a segment of the country deeply frustrated with Zardari's corrupt regime.

His arrival was heralded by an expensive television ad campaign touting the slogan "save the state, not your politics" - an apparent broadside at the major political forces. The campaign promised a long march on Islamabad to achieve two objectives: get rid of the "corrupt" government and pave the way for electoral reforms under an interim government of "honest" people.

Last week, Qadri had vowed to continue the sit-in protest in Islamabad until the government gave in to his demand for a pre-election caretaker administration appointed with the input of the country's judiciary and military. That demand has led many observers to speculate that the country's powerful military could be behind Qadri's agenda.

Who financed the million dollar march

The Islamabad siege ended peacefully but many questions remained unanswered.

Why Allama Qadri suddently descended on Pakistan rather suddenly, nearly seven years after he moved his hearth and home to Canada?

Who financed the Long March from Lahore to Islamabad and the four day sit-in in Islamabad where tents were provided for women and food was arranged. Long March participants were provided free ride to their home in different part s of Pakistan.

Many see a hidden hand behind the whole episode.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

News 1   Interesting 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Abdus-Sattar Ghazali Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Author and journalist. Author of Islamic Pakistan: Illusions & Reality; Islam in the Post-Cold War Era; Islam & Modernism; Islam & Muslims in the Post-9/11 America. Currently working as free lance journalist. Executive Editor of American (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated by America

U.S. Muslims condemn killings of American diplomats in Libya

Are we living in Orwell's 1984 Oceania surveillance state?

Saudi Air Force trainee opens fire at Naval Air Station in Florida killing 3 people

2001-2011: A decade of civil liberties' erosion in America -- Part One

2001-2011: A decade of civil liberties' erosion in America -- Part Two

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend