---- His path fraught with dangers, risks and possibilities
---- Announces 'charter of demands', saying 'Election Commission shall be dissolved and reconstituted'
---- Chaudhry brothers meet him twice in less than 24 hours without any success
He said except for the Chief Election Commissioner, all four heads of the provincial commissions were the 'political nominees' of the provincial administrations, he said. He further said the sitting chief election commission of Pakistan (CEC) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim though an honest man; was not able to conduct impartial elections due to his old age and in the presence of four members (one from each province) of election commission of Pakistan which were appointed purely on a political basis.
Qadri also demanded that general elections be held in accordance with provisions of Articles 62, 63 and 218 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He said the people of Pakistan would not accept elections if not held under those articles. He said doors for talks are still open; however, final negotiations would be held in front of millions of people in Islamabad. He announced that the long march would begin from Data Darbar in Lahore and would take place as planned in spite of all hindrances.
He appealed the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and Supreme Court to take suo motu notice against federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik for having information regarding terrorist attacks on him. He alleged that the interior minister had direct links with network of terrorists. He said the march would culminate at Bari Imam in Islamabad. On the other hand, the cleric of Golara Shareef has refused to support Qadri, saying that the latter is eyeing federal government.
Meanwhile, Qadri invited leaders and workers of all political and religious parties to participate in his march. He specially invited the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Qadri said the leaders of PTI should join him as they too were struggling for "change" in the system. He said that he does not want political workers to quit their parties, but would urge them to take part in the march.
NNI adds: Chairman Tehreek-i-Minhaj-ul-Quran International (TMQI) Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan should be dissolved ahead of planned long march to Islamabad beginning from today (Saturday). "My charter of demand to be presented in Islamabad will be seven-point agenda and I will narrate here only three and remaining four will be declared on January 14. The other points will relate to mechanisms of electoral reforms," he said.
Disclosing the first point on his agenda, Dr Qadri said election commission will be dissolved and constituted afresh. The second point is that caretaker government will be impartial. And, the caretaker set up will be formed in consultation with all political stakeholders, he said adding the elections be held under Representation of People's Act 1976.
The remaining points had been taken from judicial ruling of Supreme Court (SC) dated June 8, 2012 on constitutional petition 87/2012, he noted, adding that the judicial ruling makes it binding to act upon the Article-218(3) of the Constitution. The greatest march in the history of Pakistan would begin at 9am tomorrow that will empower the people, Tahirul Qadri said adding the course of long march could not be hampered through negotiations.
Dr Qadri said a story was being broadcast on state television that cited Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik stressing that TMI chief Dr. Qadri would surely be attacked in long march. He demanded the minister be arrested for his assertion on national TV.