"Pakistani Spring" - Prime Minister's Arrest Ordered amid 'Revolution.'(Spiegel).Pakistan has plunged into a leadership crisis. As hundreds of thousands demonstrate against corruption, the country's high court has ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Ashraf. Populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri has declared a "revolution."
The streets of Pakistan were packed on Tuesday, when hundreds of thousands of demonstrators joined the protest called by Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a self-proclaimed revolutionary leader. Indeed, it was to be his day of "revolution.
He likely wasn't expecting help from the country's highest court, but in the middle of the march, the news suddenly broke that the court had ordered the arrest of Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on suspicion of corruption and nepotism. The demonstrators cheered wildly when they heard the development.
The order issued by the Islamabad-based court came following hearings in a corruption case in which Ashraf, who has been prime minister since last June, stands accused of having received bribes in connection with an energy project during his stint as minister of water and power from 2008 to 2011. He is said to have purchased property in London with the money he received.
Pakistan now finds itself deep in crisis. Already, a power struggle had been brewing. The religious leader Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has been leading a protest march since Sunday, the goal of which is to overthrow of the government. He is hoping to create an interim government, force new elections an push through voting reforms. At 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning local time, Qadri called for a revolution in Pakistan that would remove the Ashraf government from office.
When the announcement of the court order was made, demonstrators celebrated it as a victory for their cause. Pakistan's economy, on the other hand, did not reflect their elation. The country's stock market index immediately plunged.
The news of Ashraf's impending arrest arrived right in the middle of Qadri's speech at noon on Tuesday, during which he declared a revolution. Moments before, the cleric had praised the positive role of the military and the judiciary in a system otherwise pervaded by corruption. Tahir-ul-Qadri, a moderate Muslim and the founder of the organization Minhaj-ul-Quran, or "the path of the Koran," is seen by critics as a pawn of the country's generals and justices.Hmmmm.........."A moderate Muslim and the founder of the organization Minhaj-ul-Quran, or "the path of the Koran,"....Sounds real 'Moderate'.India better prepare for Big Trouble Ahead.Read the full story here.
Related: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan demanded President Asif Ali Zardari’s immediate resignation while announcing his seven-point agenda to the media.
The party chairman also called for implementation of Supreme Court’s recent order of arresting Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the Rental Power Plants case. “We will come out on the roads if orders are not implemented.”
What Qadri is really against While Dr Qadri has been tight-lipped about his whole agenda, he has made it clear that he wants elections in strict adherence of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and wants dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Just these demands should alarm us.
Twitter alert: Qadri's deadline and PM Ashraf's arrest
While Tahirul Qadri called for a revolution in Islamabad, in an interesting turn of events, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s arrest in the rental power case.
A mere coincidence?
The local twitterati begged to differ as they began buzzing about a well-thought out conspiracy.
As #longmarch, #KSE, PM Ashraf and #tuQ began trending on twitter, the local twitterati began to put the pieces together.
Top tweets:
Is the Supreme Court of#Pakistan mounting a judicial coup in league with Tahirul Qadri?
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
Congrats to Pak nation! Half speech delivered & half goal achieved. Tomorrow, I’ll deliver second half & you’ll achieve remaining goals.
omar r quraishi
Coincidence much? Tahirul Qadri had been asking for SC to have say in formation of caretaker govt – also called PM ‘former PM’ earlier today
Asma Jahangir: Only a naïve person will think that there’s no connection between order for PM’s arrest and#TuQ‘s protest.
He likely wasn't expecting help from the country's highest court, but in the middle of the march, the news suddenly broke that the court had ordered the arrest of Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on suspicion of corruption and nepotism. The demonstrators cheered wildly when they heard the development.
The order issued by the Islamabad-based court came following hearings in a corruption case in which Ashraf, who has been prime minister since last June, stands accused of having received bribes in connection with an energy project during his stint as minister of water and power from 2008 to 2011. He is said to have purchased property in London with the money he received.
Pakistan now finds itself deep in crisis. Already, a power struggle had been brewing. The religious leader Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has been leading a protest march since Sunday, the goal of which is to overthrow of the government. He is hoping to create an interim government, force new elections an push through voting reforms. At 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning local time, Qadri called for a revolution in Pakistan that would remove the Ashraf government from office.
The news of Ashraf's impending arrest arrived right in the middle of Qadri's speech at noon on Tuesday, during which he declared a revolution. Moments before, the cleric had praised the positive role of the military and the judiciary in a system otherwise pervaded by corruption. Tahir-ul-Qadri, a moderate Muslim and the founder of the organization Minhaj-ul-Quran, or "the path of the Koran," is seen by critics as a pawn of the country's generals and justices.Hmmmm.........."A moderate Muslim and the founder of the organization Minhaj-ul-Quran, or "the path of the Koran,"....Sounds real 'Moderate'.India better prepare for Big Trouble Ahead.Read the full story here.
Related: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan demanded President Asif Ali Zardari’s immediate resignation while announcing his seven-point agenda to the media.
The party chairman also called for implementation of Supreme Court’s recent order of arresting Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the Rental Power Plants case. “We will come out on the roads if orders are not implemented.”
What Qadri is really against While Dr Qadri has been tight-lipped about his whole agenda, he has made it clear that he wants elections in strict adherence of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and wants dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Just these demands should alarm us.
Twitter alert: Qadri's deadline and PM Ashraf's arrest
While Tahirul Qadri called for a revolution in Islamabad, in an interesting turn of events, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s arrest in the rental power case.
A mere coincidence?
The local twitterati begged to differ as they began buzzing about a well-thought out conspiracy.
As #longmarch, #KSE, PM Ashraf and #tuQ began trending on twitter, the local twitterati began to put the pieces together.
Top tweets:
Is the Supreme Court of
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
Congrats to Pak nation! Half speech delivered & half goal achieved. Tomorrow, I’ll deliver second half & you’ll achieve remaining goals.
omar r quraishi
Coincidence much? Tahirul Qadri had been asking for SC to have say in formation of caretaker govt – also called PM ‘former PM’ earlier today
Asma Jahangir: Only a naïve person will think that there’s no connection between order for PM’s arrest and
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