LAHORE, Oct 7: Ignoring security concerns even from within the Jamaat-i-Islami, its leader Qazi Husain Ahmad led the first phase of the train march from Peshawar to Lahore on Tuesday.

Some Jamaat leaders had reportedly suggested that not only the train march but also the annual national congregation of the party being held in the city in the last week of October should be postponed keeping in view the deteriorated law and order situation.

Qazi rejected the opinion arguing it was time that leaders of the masses came in the open to give a sense of security to the frightened people.

The marchers, however, received a poor response in the city as around 1,000 people were there outside the City Railway Station to welcome them as none was allowed to step on the platform for the purpose.

Such was the sense of insecurity prevailing among the people that even citizens were reluctant to sit close to the dais, being guarded by Jamaat’s `trained’ workers, while entry to the venue, the park facing the railway station, was allowed only through a security gate as police blocked all roads leading to the station and encircled the venue closing its all other entrances.

The security cordon was so tight that even the vehicle carrying the JI amir to the venue was not allowed entry though local leaders of the party introduced themselves to the police.

The Lahore chapter of the party had arranged an Eid Milan at the park and had invited comic poets to attract people other than its activists for ensuring a better gathering to welcome the train marchers. But the gimmick failed.

On way to Lahore from Peshawar, the Jamaat chief addressed people at 15 railway stations. Speaking at Lahore, Qazi said he had refused to attend the in-camera session of the parliament being arranged to brief the public representatives on the national security.

He said he had more information than what the army chief was supposed to divulge in the session and that Ashfaq Parvez Kayani would just terrify the MPs about the military might of the US. Nevertheless, he said the Jamaat senators would attend the briefing.