LAHORE: The Punjab government is still indecisive about the way to handle Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Gujrat and Lahore rallies on June 23 and 24.

“We have not made a final decision whether to give a free hand to Dr Qadri or restrict him,” a senior Punjab government official told Dawn on Saturday.

“Meetings are under way on this issue but there has been no final decision as yet,” he added.

Dr Qadri is arriving from Canada on Monday morning and he will land in Islamabad to leave for Gujrat by road and then reach Lahore. On June 24, he would stage a rally from Faisal Chowk to Data Darbar.

“There has been a serious threat to the life of Dr Qadri and the government is concerned for the lives of the people accompanying him from Islamabad to Lahore via Gujrat,” the official said.

Another official said the government would make the final decision on Sunday (today).

“Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is now keenly discussing the matter with all the concerned to finalise the strategy by Sunday,” the official said, adding the government could ‘request’ Dr Qadri on his arrival to review holding of rallies as there was a threat to his life.

The Chaudhrys of Gujrat will host a reception for Dr Qadri and both the sides want to hold a public rally at the GST Chowk, Gujrat. The Chaudhrys, known for their hospitality, have also announced to give a grand reception to Mr Qadri at Islamabad airport.

Both the Pakistan Awami Tahreek of Dr Qadri and the PML-Q are of the view that the PML-N government, which got unnerved on announcement of Dr Qadri’s arrival, would not allow him to hold rallies.

“I think the PML-N government will use force as it had sent the Punjab top police officials to Rawalpindi to make sure that Dr Qadri’s supporters and PML-Q workers are not given free hand to receive him,” PML-Q Parliamentary Leader in Punjab Assembly Moonis Elahi told Dawn.

“Let me make it clear to the government that once Dr Qadri reaches Gujrat he will be our guest and we will do all to protect our guests,” he said.

Moonis asked Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to tell the people how Dr Tauqir who remained his secretary for 15 years even when the Sharifs was in exile in Saudi Arabia.

“Could this man (Tauqir) act on his own and give orders to the state machinery in the Lahore tragedy?” Moonis asked.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2014

The Qadri enigma

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