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| Qadri's Islamabad sit-in raises fears of 'soft coup' among Pakistan's politicians | Qadri's Islamabad sit-in raises fears of 'soft coup' among Pakistan's politicians |
| (7 days later) | |
| A mullah marching on Pakistan's capital with thousands of supporters calling for revolution has long been the stuff of nightmares for western policymakers who fear Islamists seizing control of the nuclear-armed state. | A mullah marching on Pakistan's capital with thousands of supporters calling for revolution has long been the stuff of nightmares for western policymakers who fear Islamists seizing control of the nuclear-armed state. |
| But no one expected a mild-mannered Canadian with a programme described by one newspaper columnist as "the most boring demands every made by a demagogue". | But no one expected a mild-mannered Canadian with a programme described by one newspaper columnist as "the most boring demands every made by a demagogue". |
| Nonetheless, Tahir-ul-Qadri is at the centre of a political crisis after the 61-year-old cleric led what he inaccurately describes as a "million-man march" on Islamabad on Monday and began a sit-in near parliament. | Nonetheless, Tahir-ul-Qadri is at the centre of a political crisis after the 61-year-old cleric led what he inaccurately describes as a "million-man march" on Islamabad on Monday and began a sit-in near parliament. |
| His supporters say they merely want the rules of the constitution to be applied to ensure fair parliamentary elections, which are due in the next few months, and turf out of office a corrupt and incompetent political class. | His supporters say they merely want the rules of the constitution to be applied to ensure fair parliamentary elections, which are due in the next few months, and turf out of office a corrupt and incompetent political class. |
| "The country is like a goat for them that they are sharing and eating," he said of Pakistan's politicians on Wednesday. | "The country is like a goat for them that they are sharing and eating," he said of Pakistan's politicians on Wednesday. |
| But his critics fear he is laying the ground for a "soft coup" by either the military or the judiciary, or both, in a country that has been plagued by army rule. | But his critics fear he is laying the ground for a "soft coup" by either the military or the judiciary, or both, in a country that has been plagued by army rule. |
| A shock announcement by the supreme court on Tuesday ordering the arrest of the prime minister on long-standing corruption charges electrified Qadri's supporters and confirmed the suspicions of many who fear a plot to topple the government. The army has chosen not to take any steps to scotch rumours that it is involved. | A shock announcement by the supreme court on Tuesday ordering the arrest of the prime minister on long-standing corruption charges electrified Qadri's supporters and confirmed the suspicions of many who fear a plot to topple the government. The army has chosen not to take any steps to scotch rumours that it is involved. |
| Hailing from the moderate Barelvi tradition of south Asian Islam, Qadri has no interest in introducing Taliban-style sharia law. | Hailing from the moderate Barelvi tradition of south Asian Islam, Qadri has no interest in introducing Taliban-style sharia law. |
| Prior to shooting to fame last month with a massive rally in the city of Lahore, he was best known for his unexceptional career as an elected member of parliament and the 600-page fatwa, or religious ruling, that he issued against terrorism and suicide bombing. | Prior to shooting to fame last month with a massive rally in the city of Lahore, he was best known for his unexceptional career as an elected member of parliament and the 600-page fatwa, or religious ruling, that he issued against terrorism and suicide bombing. |
| On Wednesday he told the crowd that the government was "not facing a mullah but a constitutional expert". | On Wednesday he told the crowd that the government was "not facing a mullah but a constitutional expert". |
| "I have never been a prayer leader," he said in a lengthy speech on Wednesday. "I have been teaching law in universities." | "I have never been a prayer leader," he said in a lengthy speech on Wednesday. "I have been teaching law in universities." |
| Perhaps the world's first armchair revolutionary, he delivers his speeches while seated on a stripy chair behind a bullet-proof window set into a specially customised metal box that resembles a giant caravan, which he rarely leaves while his followers sleep on the streets. | Perhaps the world's first armchair revolutionary, he delivers his speeches while seated on a stripy chair behind a bullet-proof window set into a specially customised metal box that resembles a giant caravan, which he rarely leaves while his followers sleep on the streets. |
| Television pictures have shown the container, which one government minister has ridiculed as a "seven-star bunker", boasts running water, a fridge, microwave and a cushioned floor. | Television pictures have shown the container, which one government minister has ridiculed as a "seven-star bunker", boasts running water, a fridge, microwave and a cushioned floor. |
| The message has seeped in. Ask almost anyone in the crowd why they are protesting and they will start explaining the intricacies of Pakistan's constitution. | The message has seeped in. Ask almost anyone in the crowd why they are protesting and they will start explaining the intricacies of Pakistan's constitution. |
| "We do want elections on time, but first the criminals and the tax avoiders should be put behind bars through articles 62 and 63 of the constitution," said Farzan Ali, a 46-year-old driver. | "We do want elections on time, but first the criminals and the tax avoiders should be put behind bars through articles 62 and 63 of the constitution," said Farzan Ali, a 46-year-old driver. |
| Qadri has called for the caretaker government, which is constitutionally required three months before elections are held, to be appointed in consultation with the military and the judiciary. | Qadri has called for the caretaker government, which is constitutionally required three months before elections are held, to be appointed in consultation with the military and the judiciary. |
| And he says he wants vigorous "pre-election screening" of all candidates so that anyone who has broken the law or not paid taxes will be barred from standing (most MPs are thought to be tax avoiders). | And he says he wants vigorous "pre-election screening" of all candidates so that anyone who has broken the law or not paid taxes will be barred from standing (most MPs are thought to be tax avoiders). |
| His ideas have been strongly endorsed by Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's last military leader who lost power in 2008. | His ideas have been strongly endorsed by Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's last military leader who lost power in 2008. |
| The promise to break the grip of a political establishment Qadri describes as "looters, thieves and bandits" has energised a large section of Pakistanis who are deeply unimpressed by the performance of their rulers. | The promise to break the grip of a political establishment Qadri describes as "looters, thieves and bandits" has energised a large section of Pakistanis who are deeply unimpressed by the performance of their rulers. |
| Five years of the coalition government led by the Pakistan People's party (PPP) has seen the country rocked by a surge in terrorism, outbreaks of sectarian murders and a collapsing economy. | Five years of the coalition government led by the Pakistan People's party (PPP) has seen the country rocked by a surge in terrorism, outbreaks of sectarian murders and a collapsing economy. |
| "People are fed up of inflation, electricity load-shedding [power cuts] and unemployment," said Khalil Qadar, a farmer from Punjab province. "Our government knows nothing of the problems of the poor – they might as well be in space." | "People are fed up of inflation, electricity load-shedding [power cuts] and unemployment," said Khalil Qadar, a farmer from Punjab province. "Our government knows nothing of the problems of the poor – they might as well be in space." |
| His powerful anti-politics message is complemented by organisational muscle through Minhaj-ul-Qur'an (MQI), an international education charity promoting religious tolerance. | His powerful anti-politics message is complemented by organisational muscle through Minhaj-ul-Qur'an (MQI), an international education charity promoting religious tolerance. |
| A substantial portion of the estimated 50,000 people who have been standing, sitting and sleeping on Islamabad's grand Jinnah Avenue were mobilised through MQI, in particular its network of religious schools around the country. | A substantial portion of the estimated 50,000 people who have been standing, sitting and sleeping on Islamabad's grand Jinnah Avenue were mobilised through MQI, in particular its network of religious schools around the country. |
| There are also a noticeable presence from wealthy expats or dual-nationality Pakistanis, who support MQI through its local chapters and are crucial donors to a campaign that must have needed large sums. | There are also a noticeable presence from wealthy expats or dual-nationality Pakistanis, who support MQI through its local chapters and are crucial donors to a campaign that must have needed large sums. |
| Security for the well-behaved crowd is in the hands of huge numbers of volunteers. Mobile toilets, tents and rations have all been organised by the MQI. | Security for the well-behaved crowd is in the hands of huge numbers of volunteers. Mobile toilets, tents and rations have all been organised by the MQI. |
| The government has been at a loss to know how to respond, other than pouring scorn on the cleric and denouncing his tactics as unconstitutional. | The government has been at a loss to know how to respond, other than pouring scorn on the cleric and denouncing his tactics as unconstitutional. |
| Qadri has outfoxed all attempts to block him from coming to Islamabad, or approaching the symbolic parliament building. | Qadri has outfoxed all attempts to block him from coming to Islamabad, or approaching the symbolic parliament building. |
| On Wednesday Qamar Zaman Kaira, information minister, accused Qadri of disrupting life in Islamabad and warned that "the law will take its course". A "first investigation report" was registered against him in a police court on Wednesday. | On Wednesday Qamar Zaman Kaira, information minister, accused Qadri of disrupting life in Islamabad and warned that "the law will take its course". A "first investigation report" was registered against him in a police court on Wednesday. |
| But analysts say that any attempt to break up the massive occupation of Islamabad's main thoroughfare may create precisely the sort of crisis that could force the hand of the military. | But analysts say that any attempt to break up the massive occupation of Islamabad's main thoroughfare may create precisely the sort of crisis that could force the hand of the military. |
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