The anti-gover-nment cleric in Pakistan Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has finally agreed to leave Lahore airport after four hours of negotiations with government following diversion of his plane from capital Islamabad on Monday morning.

Islamabad, June 23/Nationalturk – Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, an anti-government cleric in Pakistan and chief of political party Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), has finally agreed to leave Lahore airport following diversion of his plane from capital Islamabad on Monday morning.

Qadri, having dual citizenship of Canada and Pakistan, was scheduled to arrive on Monday morning in Islamabad airport from London.

The authorities, however, diverted Emirates plane carrying him and other passengers from Islamabad to Lahore airport fearing that he may lead massive anti-government rally in the national capital.

A Pakistani official said government diverted the plane carrying Qadri due to security concerns.

However, Qadri on Twitter accused the government of hijacking the plane and said he won’t leave the plane till he is moved back to Islamabad. He said he fears threat to his live in Lahore.

He had led a massive anti-government rally in the capital last year.

4-hour stand-off ends after negotiations

Officials said after about four hours of negotiations with Qadri and his men, authorities finally convinced him to leave Lahore airport for his residence in Lahore.

“I have decided to leave Lahore airport as Punjab governor has promised to provide enough vehicles to carry all the supporters. I have decided to listen to Punjab governor in his personal capacity and not as a representative of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. I have not compromised on my earlier stance,”Qadri told reporters after leaving the plane.

He said Punjab governor and he will travel together. “I will meet my supporters before going to my house.  Each and every supporter of mine will leave with me. I’m not one of those who leaves his supporters in difficult times,” he said adding his struggle for change in system will continue.

Qadri has said he was coming to Pakistan to lead a protest movement against the current government.

He has forged alliance with some political parties and is planning to launch joint anti-government rallies. “Dictatorship rules Pakistan instead of democracy”.

His supporters clashed with policemen in many cities of Pakistan.

Write your comments and thoughts below

Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News