Tehrik-e-Minhajul Qauran chief
Allama Tahir ul Qadri announced to lift the four-day siege of capital after he
reached an agreement with the government, Geo News reported Thursday.
After successful negotiations with the government, he congratulated the
participants of the sit-in, the nation as well as the ruling coalition for what
he termed the successful culmination of the long march.
Addressing the participants of the sit-in, following the signature of the Prime
Minister on what was termed as the ‘Islamabad Long March Declaration,’ Qadri
lauded the participants for their struggle. "The march that started on Sunday
and continued till today had become a great model for the
world to see," he added.
"It is a day of victory for the marchers and the nation alike," he said.
Later, the long march ended peacefully and the participants started leaving the
D-Chowk, the venue of the four-day long sit-down.
Earlier, a ten-member committee headed by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain formed by
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf held negotiations with Tahirul Qadri to end
the sit-in.
After the successful negotiations between the committee formed by the government
and Tahirul Qadri, the declaration containing the terms agreed upon was signed
by the Prime Minister and approved by the President.
The cleric invited members of the government committee, including Mushahid
Hussian Syed, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Khan Ghori,
Afrasiab Khattak, Dr Farook Hamied Naek, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Abbas Afridi, Amin
Fahim Syed Khurshid Shah to briefly address the marchers before he read out the
declaration.
Dr. Tahir ul Qadri also read the Islamabad Long March Declaration agreed between
him and the government before the crowd.
According to the declaration, the National Assembly shall be dissolved at any
time before March 16, 2013 (due date), so that the elections may take place
within 90 days. One month will be given for scrutiny of nomination papers for
the purpose of pre-clearance of the candidates under article 62 and 63 of the
constitution.
The treasury benches in complete consensus with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
will propose names of two honest and impartial persons for appointment as
Caretaker Prime Minister.
Issue of composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan will be discussed at
the next meeting on Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12 noon at the Minhaj-ul-Quran
Secretariat. Subsequent meetings if any in this regard will also be held at the
central secretariat of Minhaj-ul-Quran in Lahore. In pursuance to todays’
decision, the Law Minister will convene a meeting of the following lawyers: S.
M. Zafar, Waseem Sajjad, Aitizaz Ahsan, Farough Naseem, Latif Afridi, Dr Khalid
Ranja and Hamayoun Ahsan, to discuss these issues. Prior to the meeting of
January 27, the Law Minister, Mr Farooq H Naek, will report the results of this
legal consultation to the January 27 meeting.
Electoral Reforms: It was agreed upon that the focus will be on the enforcement
of electoral reforms prior to the polls on: (a) Article 62, 63 and 218 (3) of
the constitution; b) Section 77 to 82 of the Representation of Peoples’ Act 1976
and other relevant provisions relating to conducting free, fair, just and honest
elections guarded against all corrupt practices and; (c) The Supreme Court
Judgement of June 8, 2012 on constitutional petition of 2011 must be implemented
in Toto and in true letter and spirit.
With the end of the long march and sit-in, all cases registered against each
other shall be withdrawn immediately and there will be no acts of victimisation
and vendetta against either party or the participants of the march.
Following the successful talks, the crowd participating in the sit-in turned
festive, men and women waved their hands in the air while others danced to the
songs that blared off from the big speakers placed along side the sitting space.