qadri-march-afp-670
Tahirul Qadri gestures upon his arrival at a protest march in Islamabad on early Jan 15, 2013. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ), Dr Tahirul Qadri, has decided to challenge in a Canadian court his summoning to that country on Feb 5 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to explain as to why he had violated the oath he took when seeking asylum there, DawnNews reported.

However, Qadri's counsel, Mendel Green, had refused to represent the TMQ chief in this case.

Green had assisted Qadri in his asylum application to Canada which was accepted in 2009.

The RCMP has reportedly said that Qadri had violated his oath which did not allow him to enter the country he had sought asylum from.

Separately, a spokesman for the TMQ has declared news reports over Qadri's summoning as baseless.

After holding a long march and a sit-in in Islamabad, Qadri had reached a deal with Pakistan's ruling coalition on Thursday that would give his party some say over the formation of a caretaker government ahead of elections this spring. Qadri's party may also participate in the elections.

The cleric's reappearance on Pakistan's political stage a few weeks ago after years of living in Canada, and his calls for the military to play a role in forming an interim administration, has raised speculation he may be backed by the country's powerful army. Qadri and the military deny this.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...