DR Tahirul Qadri’s long march ended on a dubious note, raising as many questions as were raised at its start. However, the long march did give a few loud and clear messages to the nation.

First, the reasonably large crowd, including women and infants, who braved the frigid cold of Islamabad for four days and nights, gave a loud message to the rulers as to how miserable the lives of ordinary people had become under this government.

Second, Dr Qadri’s focus on electoral reforms again highlighted the fact that democracy in Pakistan had effectively been reduced to a plutocracy as no middle class person could ever hope to get elected to assemblies because of the millions of rupees required for contesting elections.

Third, legislation favouring major political parties was done quickly whereas pro-people legislation such as the anti-terrorism bill and the accountability bill could not be finalised even in five years.

Last, it was interesting to see how parties representing the old order or status quo forgot their differences and got together against a force which was beginning to exert pressure on its weak underbelly.

AKBAR JAN MARWAT Islamabad

Puppet show NATIONS prone to religious manipulation have been fed falsehood since ages. This is not new. For a religious leader it is not hard to gather a large group of revolution-seeking citizens.

Dr Tahirul Qadri’s march was not far-off either. His call for a revolution was a mere attention-seeking feat.

A revolution is an ongoing process which involves social, economic, political and religious stability. I cannot just gather a number of students from different branches of my school and take them to the capital to make certain demands. I do not hesitate to declare that it was just another puppet show.

AYESHA KHALIDQ Lahore

Fake revolution PAKISTANIS are quite used to adulteration in everything. We have phony religious leaders, quacks, spurious medicines, businessmen, democrats and dictators. People know all this and yet believe them. Now we have made a joke of the term revolution. Now we also have a fake revolution.

Dr Tahirul Qadri made fiery speeches and talked about issues being faced by the nation. Nobody could disagree with what he said in his speeches.

The people followed his long march and faced cold weather in the hope of achieving what the Canadian scholar had claimed to gain. But the way this caravan ended its march for revolution has made revolution a joke.I feel sorry for the innocent people whose religious and national emotions were exploited. The slogan ‘revolution’ has lost its significance in Pakistan. It seems we will never have anything real in this country.

PROF M. ISHAQ     Karachi