KARACHI. Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday appealed to authorities to allow food supplies to reach Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers moving towards the Minhajul Quran secretariat in Lahore.

In a telephone address, Altaf warned that if the Punjab government did not remove containers from roads leading to Model Town "within 30 minutes", routes across the country would be blocked.

The MQM leader said that there are women and children among PAT supporters, who should not be deprived of basic food items and ration.

The official MQM website states that three trucks carrying food supplies had departed from Karachi to Lahore. "The foodstuff included biryani, bottles of mineral water, biscuits, juice and other eatable[s]," read one statement.

In an emotional appeal, the MQM chief said, "Please show some mercy for the innocent children [who are a part of the protest]. I am not playing politics, I am appealing for the well being of these children so that the milk, water and biscuits being sent can reach them."

Addressing the police and administration of Lahore, he said, "Please don’t push us against a wall. We are not against anyone. We want peace and democracy."

'PAT activists are not regular protesters'

"The issue is quite complicated and not as simple as being portrayed," PML-N leader Marvi Memon said to DawnNews on Sunday.

She added that PAT activists were not regular protesters but were involved in violent activities which had resulted in the deaths of policemen in Lahore.

"Our party came into power with a mandate and will definitely complete its five-year tenure," Memon said while answering a question over the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s demand of Nawaz Sharif’s resignation.

'Let the food through'

An MQM delegation led by MNA Abdul Rashid Godil reach Tahirul Qadri's Model Town residence after "facing great difficulty".

Addressing the media, Godil said the delegation was prevented from allowing trucks of food through to the protesters.

"We told them search us, search the truck, but please let the food through" a visibly upset Rashid Godil said.

When security forces still refused to let the trucks through, the MNA narrated how the delegation opted to walk the rest of the way to Qadri's Model Town residence.

"We tried to set up a camp for medicine and food, but were not given permission for that either," Godil said.

Background

PAT chief Dr Qadri is observing 'Martyr's Day' today (Sunday) —a demonstration called initially to protest deadly clashes between his supporters and police in June. Later, Qadri said the day will also be observed to pay homage to the soldiers who lost their lives in the ongoing North Waziristan operation.

Qadri has condemned the government as corrupt and called for the overthrow of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A separate protest, led by opposition politician Imran Khan, is planned for the capital on Thursday to protest alleged election irregularities. Khan has also called for the government to go.

The planned demonstrations have unnerved Sharif's fledgling civilian government. The Punjab government has blocked roads in Model Town that lead to the Minhajul Quran secretariat.

Some members of the ruling party fear the protesters may be getting support from elements in the powerful military, which has had a series of disagreements with the government. The military denies meddling in politics.

Last week, Altaf had advised rulers to show restraint and deal with the political crisis with amicable consensus instead of threats and warnings. The MQM chief had said that everyone has the right to protest. He, however, added that this right should be exercised within the ambit of law and Constitution.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week, MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also said the MQM believed in reconciliation, and all issues should be resolved through amicable consensus.

At the time, Siddiqui had said that Altaf Hussain and Prime Minister Sharif were on the same page; that the country could not afford chaos and anarchy at this critical juncture. Dr Sattar had added, "Protest is the right of demonstrators… but, it’s better to negotiate prior to the march rather than after chaos.