Staff Report

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Minhaj-ul-Quran (TMQ) chief announced that four million people would march towards Islamabad on January 14 if the current system was not transformed in line with the Constitution.

“I assure you that today’s gathering is not for the completion of any agency’s agenda. My agenda is not postponement of elections in the country, but I only wish reforms in electoral system of Pakistan so that it can produce a visionary leadership. I want constitutionality, rule of law and a good governance,” said Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri while addressing thousands of his supporters at Minar-e-Pakistan.

"I set a Jan 10 deadline to set up a caretaker set up, otherwise, I will hold a million march towards Islamabad," he said.

“I’m struggling for restoration of democracy and to purge this country of feudalism,” said the sufi scholar and anti-Taliban religious cleric who also leads the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).

He said he believes in democracy and that his fresh campaign is not aimed at delaying the upcoming general elections in Pakistan.

Dr Qadri also expressed his condolence at the death of Tahir-ul-Qadri.

“I want to take Pakistan to a new ere. It is a gathering of new ideology and elimination of misconceptions.”

He vowed that he would be the first to resist democracy if the army made any attempt to seize the power.

No agency gave any financial help for this historic gathering, he said, adding that his initiative was to steer Pakistan out of crises.

The TMQ also called for transparent elections to change the system. SAMAA