Pak cleric booked for inciting people against Govt

Ahead of his anti-government march, Canada-based Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri was on Wednesday booked for inciting people against the state.

Lahore: Ahead of his anti-government march, Canada-based Pakistani cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri was on Wednesday booked for inciting people against the state.

The Lahore police registered a case against Qadri, who has vowed to lead a "revolution" against the Nawaz Sharif government, for allegedly making a speech in which he had asked his supporters to "raid the houses of policemen if they torture them during protest."

"We have received an application from a citizen against Pakistan Awami Tahreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri for provoking people against police. After analysing its legal aspects, a case was registered against him for inciting people against the state and police," Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider told PTI.
Condemning the registration of FIR against Qadri, PAT spokesman Qazi Faiz said, "The government had killed our men and now it has registered a case against us. It is a strange law of the land."

He said, "This act would not stop the PAT from holding its `Revolution March`."

The Pakistan government has reportedly decided to launch a crackdown on Qadri`s supporters ahead of his party`s August 10 gathering here to pay homage to his 14 activists, who were killed in a police attack at the party headquarters in Model Town on June 17.
The government has also prepared the lists of the supporters of Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan, who has announced to hold `Azadi March` in Islamabad on August 14.

"The government has decided to deal with the protesters of Freedom March and Revolution March with iron hand," a senior police official said.

He said the government had issued directions to police to detain activists of both the parties ahead of the protests.

Imran has announced August 14 for his `Azadi March` while Qadri has said that he will announce the date for his `Inqlabi March` on August 10.

"The government may put both the leaders under house arrest," the official said.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has been on the forefront to convince Imran to call off his march "for the sake of democracy".

Both Imran and Qadri have claimed that the Nawaz Sharif government "will be sent packing" after their protests.

Imran has said that he will call off his march if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will resign and announce a fresh election.
The government has rejected his demand. 

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