[The News (Pak)] As the government stood ground by not accepting even a single key demand of Pakistain Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him...
and showed patience, he finally became flexible and put up an innocuous condition for face-saving to disembark the foreign airliner, writes Tariq Butt.
It was not at all difficult for the government to consent to sending Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar to the plane for talks with Dr Qadri to end the logjam. Thus, Sharifs' choice for the gubernatorial slot paid as he amicably ended the grueling interlude.
As the government implemented its well-considered decision, taken after the Lahore tragedy, not to fire even a single shot even in the face of worst violence from the PAT workers, a whopping number, 100 plus, of coppers received injuries because of the beating by the protesters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This policy demonstrated that authorities learnt a lesson from the Lahore killings, which could have been avoided by prudent handling and management.
The government, though deeply embarrassed and scared, was eventually satisfied over the peaceful finish of the saga as not a single bullet was fired by police and only batons were used and tear gas shells fired to disperse crowds where necessary. All the time, the government dreaded even the thought of a single death in the emotionally charged fracas.
The seven-hour long drama, starting from 8 am, the landing time of the plane carrying Dr Qadri at the Islamabad airport and ending around 3 pm at the Lahore airport, once again painted Pakistain as an unruly state on the global map where one leader, having a few thousands of followers but unable to win even a solitary seat in parliament, can hold the entire country hostage for hours.
While ensconced in his first class sofa, Dr Qadri kept making one demand after the other. First, he protested diversion of the plane to Lahore and urged that it must be flown back to Islamabad. It was not accepted by authorities.
Then, the PAT chief stressed that a Pakistain army representative should meet him in aircraft to work out details of his personal security by the military personnel because he has no faith in the protection to be provided by the "terrorist" government. Its non-acceptance was natural. Meanwhile,
...back at the dirigible, Cynthia backed into the galley, the barbecue fork held in front of her.
Jack!she called.
Where the hell are you?...
different rounds of talks between him and senior government officials continued in the plane.
Finally, he opted for Chaudhry Sarwar, who is his personal friend, to come to the plane for negotiations with him to enable him to disembark. The government was thrilled to accept the condition. The governor was asked to reach the aircraft and he did that within no time and the situation was saved from getting out of control.
At the same time, Dr Qadri also demanded that his personal bulletproof high-powered jeeps and his personal coppers, comprising retired army commandos, should be allowed to reach the tarmac to take him to his residence. The government instantly accepted it.
At the end, it was Sarwar's "friendship" with Dr Qadri that brought the impasse to a close cordially. But the PAT chief made it clear that he was talking to the governor and has accepted his plea only as a personal friend and not as a government representative.
However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
regardless what he said Chaudhry Sarwar is undoubtedly the government's man.As far the provision of the government's security to Dr Qadri was concerned, it was in any case available to him otherwise it was not possible for him to visit the Lahore hospital to inquire about the health of his workers injured in the June 17 bloody violence. The security to be provided by the Punjab government will be available to him everywhere he will go during his stay in Punjab.
There were also some other highly important aspects of the alarming developments. First, the government is relaxed that it succeeded in implementing its decision not to let Qadri hold any public meeting at the airport and travel to Lahore via Grand Trunk Road, campaigning against it in the way. In addition, it did not create any disastrous situation. The government strategy was to wear out Qadri and test his endurance till the time he gives in.
Second, despite heavy odds and government's relentless efforts to block them through different means, the PAT supporters assembled in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to express solidarity with their leader and jammed the two cities. It was their great success. Dr Qadri will take solace in the fact that he has the capacity to create such a situation. Although his poor electoral power is no secret, he demonstrated once again that he can gather a good number of people to protest.
Third, it was proved once again how thankless job police have to perform in such situations. If they retaliate, they are in the dock, but if they don't adequately respond to violence by protesters, they receive severe physical beating and serious wounds. They had to follow orders of their superiors. However,
those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things...
the way the cops were hammered, it humiliated the force and the rule of law was consigned to dustbin.
Four political orphans who pinned high hopes to the instant "revolution" being brought about by Qadri that was going to sweep away the present dispensation were crestfallen as the show ended peacefully.
Eventually, it was established that it was Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, who played the fundamental role in wrapping up the drama as he conveyed to Dr Qadri in a lengthy telephonic talk the threat of the foreign airline to file hijacking charges of its plane.
Afterwards, he separately talked to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
...
Currently the Interior Minister of Pakistain. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Nawaz Uncle FesterSharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain
publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that. since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture...
and his Punjab counterpart. He communicated them Qadri's demands. He again contacted Qadri and it was decided that Chaudhry Sarwar would go to the plane to break the standoff.
Among other demands that Qadri presented to the Punjab governor, he also urged reconstruction of barriers near his Lahore residence and office within 24 hours that were removed by the Punjab government on June 17. He also emphasised that cases against PAT workers should be withdrawn. While concluding an agreement with a team of the then government in his famous container last year, he had also demanded withdrawal of a criminal case lodged against some PAT activists by the Islamabad police. In a nutshell, Qadri displayed a remarkable flexibility on the same pattern that he offered last year and ended his protest despite none of his demands was accepted now or before.