Turkish Weekly: Anticorruption March Heads Toward Islamabad

Dated: 14 January 2013

Anticorruption March Heads Toward Islamabad
Monday, 14 January 2013

Thousands of marchers led by influential Islamic cleric Tahir-ul Qadri are making their way toward the Pakistani capital to protest government corruption and demand election reforms.

Qadri's proclaimed "Caravan of Democracy March" left Lahore and is expected to reach Islamabad's outskirts by later on January 14.

The cleric said he hopes to attract 100,000 or more protesters.

Qadri, speaking on January 13 in an interview with Reuters, called for sweeping electoral reforms ahead of national elections this spring.

"So [the government] wants to go to the electoral process in the same way as it [has been] for the last 60 years, so that the fake degree holders, and tax evaders, and the corrupt people, and the criminal people -- because of their special skills of maneuvering the elections -- may come back to the parliament," Qadri said. "So we don't want lawbreakers to become our lawmakers."

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reports the main road into Islamabad is open, but many others leading to diplomatic missions and government buildings are sealed off.

Source : http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/146427/anticorruption-march-heads-toward-islamabad.html