ISLAMABAD: Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has demanded further security from the Punjab government for the Jan 14 long march, while the provincial administration has asked his party for the venue of the march and other details.

Meanwhile, the political temperature in the country appears to be rising every day as the long march draws nearer.

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday urged Qadri to register his party with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in order to become a legitimate stake-holder and to join consultations on the interim caretaker set-up.

“Qadri does not want elections in the country without electoral reforms and wants to be part of consultations on caretaker government despite the fact that Tehrik Minhajul Quran is not registered with the ECP as a political party,” said Kaira.

About the long march, Kaira said people have the right to congregate, protest and raise voice for their demands but nobody should defy the law.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has accused the long march of being a ploy to delay election, which might which might be dangerous for the country.

He said that it was essential for national security that the motives of ‘imported elements’ be made unsuccessful.

He said it was amusing that somebody returning to the country after six years was speaking of bringing about change.

On the other hand, security has been put on high alert in Islamabad, with leaves for the police, Capital Development Authority (CDA) employees and rescue officials cancelled.

Meanwhile, Haider Abbas Rizvi, a leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party which is supporting Jan 14 march in the federal capital, said that the rally was not meant to topple the government, but it was aimed against the “corrupt system”.

He added that the MQM would fully participate in the march while staying in the government.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Qadri in Lahore, Rizvi said that the long march was not against any party or government.

Rizvi said that groups of MQM supporters from Sindh and Punjab would be joining the march from separate routes.

According to another report, the MQM and TMQ have started their fund-raising campaigns for the march.