LAHORE, Pakistan: An influential Pakistani scholar yesterday led thousands of supporters at the start of a protest march on the capital Islamabad to demand key reforms before looming elections.
Hundreds of cars, buses and trucks carrying around 7,000 people left the easternmost city of Lahore, expected to grow in number as they pass through towns and villages en route to Islamabad, accompanied by a heavy security presence.
Tahirul Qadri accuses the government of being corrupt and incompetent, and argues that Pakistan must enact "meaningful" reforms before general elections, which are scheduled to be held within eight weeks after Parliament disbands in mid-March.
But the government says Qadri, an Islamic scholar, who returned to Pakistan only last month after years in Canada, is part of a dangerous conspiracy designed to postpone elections and grab power.
The authorities have sealed off the main approaches to Islamabad and warned that the Taleban could attack the march, leading to the closure of schools, businesses and embassies today when the rally is expected to arrive.
"This is a march for protection of human rights, elimination of poverty, supremacy of constitution, rule of law and end of corruption," Qadri said, accusing the Punjab provincial government of impounding buses and detaining drivers.
Qadri has called for an end to corruption and for electoral reforms to be enacted to allow honest candidates to stand and win, but he has not engaged in specifics.
He has likened his efforts to the Arab Spring, but insisted it will not be bloody as it was in Egypt, Libya or Syria.
Pakistan suffers from crushing problems — a flagging economy, a Taleban and Al-Qaeda-linked insurgency, record attacks on Shiite Muslims and an energy crisis.
Police said 10,000 officers had been deployed along the route of the march for the security of the protesters and that an elite commando squad would guard Qadri.
The rally is expected to converge outside Islamabad from various starting points in Punjab. Organizers say fuel canisters and trucks laden with rations will also accompany the protesters.
Political analyst and retired lieutenant general, Talat Masood, told AFP he believed Qadri had been "dropped from a parachute" to try to disrupt the political process.
Commentators have questioned how Qadri has been able to whip up such large crowds and raise so much money so quickly after returning from Canada.
"It's the same thinking as in the past, to bring a technocrat who comes and brings changes and reforms, improves the economy and focuses on militancy," said Masood.
"I would say that certain elements within the military, may have an interest, plus the bureaucracy, plus the businessmen who are not getting energy, gas and they face difficulty," he added.
FROM: AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Pakistan govt sees plot behind protest march
