Monday, 23 June 2014
ISLAMABAD / LAHORE / RAWALPINDI / KARACHI: A sense of anticipation hangs over the capital as cleric-cum-political leader Tahirul Qadri lands back in Pakistan to throw up one of the bigger political challenges to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) year-old government.
As supporters of PAT chief Tahirul Qadri fervently wait for their leader to kickoff his movement against the ruling government, a sense of anxiety and uncertainty has enveloped the country.
Major roads have been blocked off and security has been tightened in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Earlier this week, at least ten people were killed and scores injured in Lahore when violentclashes erupted between the police and followers of Qadri – the deadliest political confrontation in Lahore since emergency rule was imposed by General Musharraf in 2007.
As Qadri plans to go head-to-head with the government for a second time, get all the updates here. All stories relating to Qadri’s rally can also be found on this trend page as well.
[Read: AFP version and Reuters version of the clashes that took place today]
June 23, 3:21pm
Our correspondent Abdul Manan reports that dozens of Qadri’s supporters have gathered outside Minhajul Quran Secretariat.
Police is not present at the location but Qadri’s private security is.
Qadri will hold a press conference after he arrives at his house and telecommunication service has been suspended outside his home.
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June 23, 3:17pm
Express News reports that a convoy is ready outside Hajj terminal to take Qadri to his house.
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June 23, 3:15pm
Express News correspondent Mian Aslam reports that Qadri is still inside the airport. He adds that police have beefed up security on routes from the airport to the hospital and Qadri’s house.
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June 23, 3:13pm
Speaking to Express News, Qadri says Punjab governor has assured him that the removal of the boundary wall outside his house in Model Town was only temporary.
Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar tells Express News that he will inform the chief minister about Qadri’s demands.
“All just demands of Qadri’s will be accepted,” the governor says.
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June 23, 2:47pm
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says Qadri is walking towards the lounge along with Punjab governor and his supporters.
“Punjab governor has promised to provide enough vehicles to carry all the supporters,” Khan says.
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June 23, 2:42pm
Express News now reports that Qadri has disembarked the Emirates’ aircraft.
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June 23, 2:40pm
For more striking images of the clashes outside Islamabad airport by our photographer Muhammad Javaid, view the full slideshow here.
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June 23, 2:34pm
Qadri, while speaking to Express News, says he decided to listen to Punjab governor in his personal capacity and not as a representative of Nawaz Sharif or Shahbaz Sharif.
“I will avenge the death of my supporters; I have not compromised on my earlier stance.”
“Punjab governor and I will travel together,” he says, adding that he will meet his supporters before he goes to his house.
“We will follow the immigration process and then leave with our motorcade.”
“Each and every supporter of mine will leave with me; I’m not one of those who leaves his supporters in difficult times,” Qadri says.
“My struggle for change in system will continue.”
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June 23, 2:27pm
Punjab governor says Qadri is just like my brother and respects me: “I knew if I would contact Qadri, he would listen to me.”
“We cannot reverse the past but we should learn from our mistakes.”
“This is my country as much as it is Qadri’s; we all want Pakistan to progress,” he adds.
“Shahbaz Sharif was happy when I told him Qadri has agreed to go to his Lahore residence with me,” the governor says.
Punjab governor further adds that we all should respect and accept each other’s mandate.
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June 23, 2:24pm
Thanking Qadri for meeting with him, Punjab governor says he will go with Qadri in his vehicle.
“Qadri has made a few requests related to his supporters and I have assured him that I will stay with him until we address all his concerns.”
“All of Qadri’s supporters will also leave this plane with us,” Punjab governor says.
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June 23, 2:20pm
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says that Punjab governor is in negotiation with Qadri right now.
The Punjab governor is also trying to contact IG Punjab and chief secretary.
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June 23, 2:16pm
Qadri, while speaking to Express News, says he will go in his car along with the governor.
“I fear Shahbaz Sharif’s terrorists will try to attack me and I want the governor to embrace martyrdom with me,” Qadri says.
He further says he will not leave his supporters alone and that he will meet them as soon as he leaves the plane.
Qadri also says he will take the usual route to his home.
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June 23, 2:13pm
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says Qadri will travel to Model Town in his personal vehicle with the Punjab governor.
“Qadri says he will first go to the hospital and meet his injured supporters along with the governor and then take the governor to his house and offer him tea,” Khan says.
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June 23, 2:10pm
Express News correspondent Noman Sheikh reports that the Punjab governor will speak directly to Qadri and decide what course of action to take.
The correspondent adds that it has not been decided yet if Qadri will leave in the governor’s vehicle or in his personal vehicles that have reached the airport but are still away from the runway.
Qadri’s personal vehicles were allowed to enter the airport through the main entrance.
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June 23, 2:02pm
Express News now reports that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s bullet-proof vehicle has reached the airport to take Qadri to his house, however, it has been barred from going near the Hajj terminal. The Punjab governor has also arrived at the airport.
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June 23, 2:00pm
Qadri says he will disembark the plane only if Punjab governor and media are present outside the aircraft.
Express News reports that Law Minister Rana Mashood is accompanying Punjab governor on his way to meet Qadri.
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June 23, 1:51pm
Politicians on twitter said:
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June 23, 1:49pm
Our correspondent Anwar Sumra reports Governor Punjab is on his way to Lahore airport to conduct negotiations with Qadri.
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says Governor Punjab spoke to him over the phone and said he is on his way to the airport.
“Punjab governor says he doesn’t want the situation to turn any worse,” Khan says.
Express News also reports that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has offered his car as well to take Qadri to his house in Lahore’s Model Town.
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June 23, 1:47pm
Radio Pakistan reports that over 70 police personnel were injured when PAT workers pelted stones at them near airport in Islamabad.
“On the orders of the interior ministry, the police showed restraint and did not use force against the protesters,” Radio Pakistan adds.
Police fire teargas during scuffle between law enforcement and PAT workers on Monday. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID
The injured police personnel have been shifted to PIMs, Polyclinic and District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi.
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June 23, 1:45pm
A source told Express News anchorperson Javed Chaudhry that Qadri was contacted by an army official and asked him to be a little flexible.
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says Qadri has not been directly contacted by any army official.
“Qadri, however, claims the army had agreed to come to escort me but the Punjab government has stopped them,” Khan says.
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June 23, 1:32pm
Express News anchorperson Imran Khan says environment inside the plane is very calm as fears of a fierce clash have subsided after Punjab governor’s offer.
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June 23, 1:30pm
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan said on twitter:
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June 23, 1:19pm
Radio Pakistan said on twitter that the Punjab government has announced a compensation package for the policemen injured in today’s clashes with PAT workers:
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June 23, 1:17pm
Express News reports that Emirates had made a request to Punjab government to evacuate the plane and let it continue with its scheduled flight plan.
The airline, in a written request, says this lock-down is affecting its performance.
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June 23, 1:06pm
Express News reports that Qadri has agreed to leave his plane and go to his residence under personal security.
Qadri, while speaking to Express News, says bullet-proof vehicles should be allowed to come to the exit of the plane.
He adds he will disembark and then immediately get inside the vehicle.
“I don’t trust the government and will only let my personal guard come close to me.”
Qadri also says media vans should also be allowed to go with him.
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June 23, 1:00pm
Jamaat-e-Islaami leader Sirajul Haq says “the world would have not ended if the plane was allowed to land in Islamabad.”
“The government is making mistakes by mishandling the situation and only strengthening Qadri’s movement.”
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June 23, 12:55pm
CAA spokesperson says they want to resolve the matter as soon as possible.
“We are in talks with the government,” he says.
CAA denies that Emirates had made any request to the aviation authority.
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June 23, 12:51pm
Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood says Qadri should act responsibly.
“PAT supporters attacking Islamabad police reflect the ideas they believe in,” adds Mashood.
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June 23, 12:49pm
Express News reports that Qadri is consulting PML-Q Punjab president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and AML chief Sheikh Rasheed regarding the issue.
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June 23, 12:46pm
Express News reports that the government has tried to contact Qadri and offered to take him to his house.
Government has offered to provide Qadri with a helicopter and bullet-proof vehicle.
Qadri has refused all the offers made by the government.
An MQM delegation has entered the plane to meet Qadri.
Express News screengrab of Qadri’s plane.
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June 23, 12:43pm
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, while speaking to Express News, says it is regrettable how government handled the situation.
“On top of that, the government is not even admitting its mistakes,” Kaira adds.
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June 23, 12:32pm
PML-N leader Mian Javed Latif says Qadri is bent upon creating disturbance in the country.
He questions why PAT supporters are present at the airport armed with sticks if they are peaceful.
“If Qadri talks about changing the system, why was he part of this system in 2002,” adds Latif.
