While talks have begun between a government delegation and Tahirul Qadri inside the bullet-proof container from which the cleric has been addressing crowds for the last three days. His supporters who have been participating in the sit-in have been enduring rain in the capital since Thursday morning. Qadri had given the government a 'last deadline' of 3pm to meet his demands which was then extended to 3:45 pm.
Qadri, who returned from Canada last month, is demanding that Pakistan enact reforms before the general elections scheduled to be held by mid-May. He called upon the corrupt to be disqualified from running for elections. He highlighted the fact that paying only lip service to the Constitution and law should not be acceptable and what is needed is the actual and strict enforcement of the Constitution and law in Pakistan.
The cleric called upon Pakistani citizens to "Come out of your homes to save Pakistan, save the future of your children”. Lots of free food was available in the form of food trucks that came and went with people lining up orderly in queues. The women camped on one side of the road with many young children, while men, young and old, stayed on the other side of divider. Closer to Qadri’s bullet proof container where he's now living, young men wearing caps and badges displaying Qadri’s Minhaj ul Quran charitable organization.
As crowds wait it out patiently the talks inside the container continue. Some images from this rainy morning. - Text Rina Saeed Khan and Dawn.com
