LAHORE, Jan 7: Despite having been briefed by Interior Minister Rehman Malik on security threats and government’s arrangements to counter these on the eve of his march, Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri reiterated on Monday that he could not guarantee a peaceful march if someone tried to sabotage it.

“Despite hurdles being created by district administrations in the form of pressure on transporters to return the advance booking/money to our party leaders in various districts and tehsils, we will hold the march at all costs. And if someone tries to disrupt it, I will not guarantee that the marchers will remain peaceful,” Dr Qadri said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the interior minister.

Mr Malik said the main objective of his meeting was to discuss with the TMQ leadership security issues and arrangements to be made by the government for the march. “I have not come here to persuade Qadri Sahib to call off his march; I am here to tell him that we will facilitate it through security and logistics,” he said.

He said Dr Qadri’s agenda was a national one and in line with the Constitution and no political parties could term it wrong or baseless.

“Dr Qadri is right when he says people who have looted the country’s wealth or got their taxes or loans written off should have no right to contest elections. As Dr Qadri says, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also desired to have a transparent electoral system,” Mr Malik said, adding that Ms Bhutto had always respected Qadri Sahib and she was given life-membership of the TMQ.

He welcomed Dr Qadri’s march on Islamabad and said the federal government would provide foolproof security to the satisfaction of the TMQ leadership.

Dr Qadri said he would hold talks with the prime minister and members of his cabinet on the issue of the march.

“Mr Malik sought details about the objective of my agenda and long march. I told him that we are not doing this for derailing democracy or getting elections postponed,” he said.