No NoC for long march in Blue Area

ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Thursday warned of fresh security threats to Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri asking him to review his decision of the planned long march on the capital owing to “real life threats” from extremist groups.At the same time, he said that Dr Qadri had not requested the Interior Ministry for the issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for holding any public gathering in the capital. “If we received such request then permission might be granted for such a gathering at a safer place where there would be no disturbance for the residents of Islamabad,” he added.While talking to reporters here, he said that Dr Tahirul Qadri was facing some potent threats to life as Punjab government had recently received an intelligence report that Ghazi Force, a militant group, had planned to launch suicide attack on the January 14th rally of Dr. Qadri.“The Punjab Government has conveyed to us that senior officials were sent to apprise Dr. Qadri of the situation but he declined to meet them,” he added. He further said the group had detailed three persons Yar Bakht, Ahmad and Naeem, aged between 18 to 19, for the purpose.Another intelligence alert had also been received regarding attack on media team covering the long march, he said ,adding, that Section 144 had been imposed in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). He said there were also some reports that a number of workers of Tehrik-i-Minhaj ul Quran and some government servants were involved in collection of contributions for the long march and warned them of disciplinary action.He further said 170,000 students were studying in the educational institutions being run under the supervision of Dr Qadri and he should think about the parents who have sent them for education.He made it clear that the government would not succumb to any illegal demand of Dr Qadri and he should be sure that election would be held in time.Replying to a question, he said no public meeting or sit-in would be allowed in commercial markets of the capital especially in Blue Area and Dr Qadri and his workers would be provided a reasonable place outside the capital with all facilities if he did not postpone the march.

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