Massive protests are taking place in Pakistan as citizens demand reform of the country’s corrupt electoral system before elections this year. Voice of America reports that the protests are being headed by Tahir-ul Qadri, a pro-Western Sufi cleric who has previously issued fatwas against terrorism.
Qadri has been active in Pakistan since the 1980s but has lived in Canada for about a decade and has become a naturalized Canadian citizen. He returned to Pakistan in December to demand that the government step down and the military appoint an interim leader to implement reforms.
Also today, the Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on corruption charges, so things look to be moving very quickly in that part of the world.
Amazing photos on my TL of protests across #Pakistan against #Shia killings. MT @YusraSAskari sit-in in #Quetta pic.twitter.com/NA0XPyjO
— Myra MacDonald (@myraemacdonald) January 12, 2013
Millions of Protestors #TheRevolution Jinah Avenue #DChowk #TuQ #LongMarch #Islamabad #TahirulQadri #Pakistan http://t.co/QHhqqrY7
— #TuQ Always Right ™ (@Vote4None) January 15, 2013
#DChowk fully packed with Millions of Protestors #TheRevolution #TuQ #LongMarch #RealRevolution http://t.co/13AAm6nh
— #TuQ Always Right ™ (@Vote4None) January 15, 2013
#DChowk #TheRevolution #TuQ #LongMarch #RealRevolution http://t.co/CMr5puZT
— #TuQ Always Right ™ (@Vote4None) January 15, 2013
Jinah Avenue to #DChowk fully packed with Millions of Protestors #TheRevolution #TuQ #LongMarch #Islamabad http://t.co/lLf9HtS0
— #TuQ Always Right ™ (@Vote4None) January 15, 2013
I advise all participants of #LongMarch to observe peace and just peace. A big NO to violence. #14Jan #Pakistan #Islamabad
— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) January 14, 2013
We’re not sure entirely what to make of this yet, but it’s nice to see Pakistanis rise up in support of a man preaching secularism and tolerance, not jihad.
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