---- Sit-in finishes on a victorious note as government, Qadri reach agreement
---- Assemblies to be dissolved before March 16
---- Elections within 90 days
---- Candidates' scrutiny period extended to 30 days
---- Talks on Election Commission to continue
---- Names of two candidates for caretaker premiership to be proposed by government, PAT with consensus
The declaration was signed by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf after President Asif Ali Zardari gave him the go ahead. The power corridors sprung into action when Dr Qadri gave a 90-minute final ultimatum to the government, which prompted the PPP-led coalition government to hold talks inside the bullet-proof cabin of Dr Qadri on Jinnah Avenue. The talks between Dr Qadri and the government team lasted five hours.
After successful negotiations, a three-member negotiating team consisting of Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and Qamar Zaman Kaira dashed off to the Prime Minister's House to have his signature on the declaration. After getting the Prime Minister's signature, the 10-member delegation and Dr Tahirul Qadri signed the declaration, which was later read out by Dr Qadri in Urdu to a jubilant crowd.
The agreement is given below: 1) The National Assembly shall be dissolved at any time before March 16, 2013, (due date), so that the elections may take place within the 90-day period. One month will be given for scrutiny of nomination paper for the purpose of pre-clearance of candidates under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution so that the eligibility of candidates is determined by the Elections Commission of Pakistan. Candidates would not be allowed to start the election campaign before the ECP's pre-clearance on his/her eligibility.
2) Treasury benches in complete consensus with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) will propose names of two "honest and impartial" persons for appointment as caretaker prime minister.
3) Issue of composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan will be discussed at the next meeting on Sunday, January 27, 12pm at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat. Subsequent meetings if any in this regard will also be held at the central secretariat of Minhajul Quran in Lahore. In pursuance to todays' decision, the Law Minister will convene a meeting of the following lawyers: S M Zafar, Waseem Sajjad, Aitizaz Ahsan, Farough Naseem, Latif Afridi, Dr Khalid Ranja and Hamayoun Ahsan, to discuss issues. Prior to the meeting of January 27, the Law Minister, Farooq H Naek, report the results of this legal consultation to the January 27 meeting.
4) Electoral Reform: It was agreed that the focus will be on the enforcement of electoral reforms prior to the polls on: a) Article 62, 63 and 218 (3) of the Constitution. B) Section 77 to 82 of the Representation of Peoples' Act 1976 and other relevant provisions relating to conducting free, fair, just and honest elections guarded against all corrupt practices. c) The Supreme Court Judgement of June 8 last year on constitutional petition of 2011 must be implemented in toto and in true letter and spirit.
The government also agreed to withdraw all cases registered during the sit-in immediately and there will be no acts of victimisation and vendetta against either party or the participants of the march. The committee was headed by Chudhry Shujaat Hussain and comprising Afrasiab Khattak, Law Minister Farooq H Naek, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Port and Shipping Babar Ghauri, Federal Minister for religious affair Khurshid Shah, Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Federal Minister for Overseas Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and senator Abbas Afridi.
After successful negotiations with the government, TMQ chief Dr Tahirul Qadri congratulated the participants of the sit-in, the nation as well as the ruling coalition for what he termed the successful culmination of the long march. Addressing the participants following the signing of the agreement by the Prime Minister, Qadri lauded the participants for their struggle. "The march that started on Sunday and continued till today had become a great model for the world to see," he added. "It is a day of victory for the marchers and the nation alike," he said.
Later, the long march ended peacefully and participants started leaving the D-Chowk, the venue of the four-day long sit-down. Earlier Dr Tahirul Qadri invited members of the government committee to briefly address the marchers. All members of committee congratulated the participants and termed the declaration a step forward toward democracy.