Dr. Qadri can now leave country only under law: Rasheed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed said Dr. Tahirul Qadri arrived in Pakistan with his wish, but he will now go through with law to leave the country, ARY News reported Tuesday.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Rasheed said Qadri’s armed men and baton-wielding targeted policemen on Qadri’s directives at the airport yesterday.

A new form of terrorism, along with the one already existing, is being introduced in Pakistan, brought by a person from abroad. We will fight this menace with courage. We will stamp out both form of terrorism from the country, said the minister.

“Hooligans backed by Dr. Qadri were obstructing the law-abiding protectors of government [on arrival of Dr. Qadri on June 23]. Media camera captured the entire scene. I am here to inquire after those policemen. They are over 100 in strength who were beaten up by Qadri’s supporters,” claimed the information minister.

Rasheed alleged that Qadri asked his workers to beat up law enforcers who stopped them. Several policemen are critically injured. Most of them suffered wounds to sensitive parts of the body, he added.

Attempts are underway to divert attention from a core issue. Pak Army operation is going on in North Waziristan Agency and attempts are made to divert its attention from there.

“Those migrating from NWA are not very huge in strength. We can accommodate and facilitate those people very well. This is a country of 180 million people.”

Rasheed said, “We will collar those who are spreading anarchy in the country, and we will facilitate to the core our North Waziristan people.”

He reiterated that police were stationed at airport to protect passengers and Tahirul Qadri. But Dr. Qadri’s supporters smashed the law enforcers, which was condemnable.