Clashes as prominent Pakistan cleric returns to lead 'revolution'

Police fired tear gas as they clashed with supporters of a Canada-based cleric at Islamabad airport on Monday ahead of his return to lead what he has called an anti-government "revolution".

Tahir-ul-Qadri, who drew tens of thousands of supporters to a sit-in protest in Islamabad in January last year, is due to arrive a week after eight people were killed when his followers clashed with police in the eastern city of Lahore.

His return could add to the pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government at a sensitive time when the country's military is engaged in a major offensive against Taliban militants in the restive northwest.

Qadri, a religiously moderate cleric, has a large following in Pakistan but some analysts believe he is also supported by the country's powerful military establishment to keep civilian authorities in check.

Security was tight in Islamabad ahead of his arrival, with the government deploying armed personnel at all entry and exit points of the capital and blocking roads leading up to the airport with shipping containers.

A spokesman for Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority told AFP Qadri's flight had been diverted to Lahore "to ensure the safety of the passengers and aircraft".

But Qadri's supporters, including a large number of women, managed to breach police cordons to arrive at the Islamabad airport overnight, chanting "Long live Tahir-ul-Qadri" and "revolution, revolution, Islamic revolution".

Surveillance helicopters flew overhead as police fired teargas at the crowd occupying the area outside the airport, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Television footage showed Qadri's followers armed with sticks and bricks clashing with baton-wielding police.

Qadri had led the last protest for over four days during the tenure of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government four months before the May 2013 general election.

He had demanded the early dissolution of the government and implementation of a caretaker setup backed by the military and judiciary.

But despite intense media interest, the protest had little long-term impact -- Qadri ended his sit-in after talks with ministers and the election went ahead as planned.

Qadri is the founding leader of Minhaj-ul-Qur’an International (MQI), an organisation with branches in more than 90 countries and that works for the promotion of peace and harmony between communities.

His sudden and apparently well-financed emergence after years living in Canada was criticised as a plot by sections of the establishment -- particularly the armed forces -- to delay the elections and regain power.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Source : http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-prominent-pakistan-cleric-returns-lead-revolution-062830584.html