Pakistani Religious Leader Terms Long March Successful

Islamabad, Jan 22, IRNA – A Pakistani religious leader on Monday said that a recent long march was successful since most of the objectives, including assurance by the government to hold parliamentary elections on time, were achieved. Talking to IRNA, Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) member Agha Murtaza Poya said that peaceful march and sit-in in the federal capital has set a great example. The religious leader went on to say that the sit-in was called off because their demands were met. He said that they were only demanding electoral reforms and appropriate atmosphere for the general elections to be held this year. The march was called off after the government and Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had signed the Islamabad Long March Declaration. The declaration said that electoral reforms would be introduced before the coming elections to ensure transparent, fair and free elections. Poya said that they have not yet presented any names for the care taker prime minister, adding that the names will be presented during a meeting between the government and Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran team on January 27 regarding implementation of TMQ demands. He reiterated that nobody was behind the long march and sit-in. Agha Murtaza Poya said that the nation had gathered in Islamabad to demand its rights./end