[View the story "Pakistan's Great Public March?" on Storify ]Pakistan's Great Public March? Cleric hopes for turnout of "millions" for #14Jan rally Storified by The Stream · Thu, Jan 10 2013 13:31:27
Qadri shared his views on Twitter:
I do not demand to postpone general elections. I just want the elections according to all clauses of Constitution. #23DecDr Tahir-ul-Qadri
#TahirulQadri We support constitutionality and a clean, pure democratic process in this country; we support independence of the judiciary.Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
#Pakistan need radical & revolutionary changes at the moment. Great Public March on #14Jan will prove a real and prosperous change for it.Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
The present version of a democracy is a sub-title of corruption. 22 families ruled Pakistan in 1970, 2200 rule it today. #14Jan #IslamabadDr Tahir-ul-Qadri
Through change and reforms we need to remove the opportunities for corruption to occur in the electoral process. #Pakistan #14JanDr Tahir-ul-Qadri
Many Pakistanis on Twitter expressed their support for Qadri:
Join the #longmarch for a better tomorrow #Pakistan #14Jan #Islamabad Dr #TahirulQadri #TuQ http://twitpic.com/bty8t3Shoaib Khan
Nothing comes merely by thinking about it. We have to stand up to change #Pakistan on #14Jan #Islamabad #TuQmuhammad imran
#TUQ is going to fight for the rights of poor. His stance is clearly against corrupt mafia so is facing undue criticism.Ayaz
“My mission is to uphold the Constitution of Pakistan. My mission is to restore Jinnah’s true democracy.” #Tribune #TUQAtif Rauf
Its the duty of the government to protect us nd give us our rights, but if the government fails, its our right to demand #change #14Jan #TUQH.A.M
#ThankYouPresidentZardari for making Pakistan one of the most corrupt nations in the world. But guess what.. #TuQ is here 2 fix the nation!Usman Shah Gillani
Independence and freedom for a nation means it is governed by the constitutions and not by selfish minds #ChangePK #TUQTahir Mohammed
#TUQ demands the elections to be held according to the conditions stipulated by Pakistan constitution. So why the crticism?#14Jan #IslamabadShaykh Rehan #14Jan
Although supporters see the march as promoting democracy, others question Qadri's agenda and fear he will only interrupt the political process and delay the upcoming elections.
Democracy in danger; Elections are the target #unrest #longmarch #blasts #TUQ #Pakistan #LoCIssuePir Imran Gillani
this is totally unconstitutional act where was qadri last four years why suddenly distrub fair satiuation for electionFakir Salam
,,,There is big game behind his arrival, USA will use him to convince muslim Pakistanis to make legitimated to attack IRAN via Pakistan land, as musharaf was used to make it right to use PK land to attack Afghanistan due to UNO security consil. same way muslims will be told by tahir ul qadri, that due to islam, etc, this that, attacking iran via PK is OK. next 10 years we will see him, then escape to west.Shezad Qmar
We are not sheeps whom these people can use for their interests. He has no agenda so he must walk alone Hussain Malik
hes just a puppet trying to get a chair ppl be smart!!Hassan Naeem
Netizens defended Qadri against claims his agenda is influenced by corruption or foreign involvement.
#TahirulQadri only working for the pleasure of Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet (pbuh) - NOT internal/external agencies #14Jan #TuQFaisal Ghani
They can start any kind of propaganda against #TuQ and #14Jan, but Victory will always be with The Truth. #14JanVictoryDayDutch Minhaji #14Jan
US and British embassies deny support for #TahirUlQadri #TUK http://tribune.com.pk/story/489453/no-us-britain-support-for-qadri/ #14Janalexandra locke
Qadri himself also addressed these claims in the video below:
International Media Agency hired to spread Propaganda about 14Jan Marchshabzz234
Some fear that Qadri's march will only become a target for terror and violence:
Qadri is right on his point of views but Malik is also right on his point of views as there will be plenty of chances for terrorism if Qadri comes to Islamabad on 14 January. Terrorists will be able to enter in red zone.Faris Qureshi
Others are unsure it will be nearly as popular as it is being advertised. Although the hashtag #14Jan has over 37,000 mentions online, many
question the size of the actual turnout.
As political punters continue to place bets on the outcome of Qadri’s much-publicized long march, innumerable analysts think that odds are heavily stacked against the Canadian national’s ability to achieve his real objectives in such a short span of time.Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march to choke GT Road badly - thenews.com.pk
Y the hell r u calling it a million MarchIts not even gonna be a thousand marchZamiyad Dar
Qadri will
reportedly spend 800 million rupees ($8,217,760 USD) to secure transportation for the march's participants:
Around a #Billion Rupees to be spent only in transporting attendees to the #TUQ Long March! Its time to start calling it a #BillionMarchYasir M
With violence occurring throughout the country, some netizens feel the media's interest in Qadri is misplaced.
Cover the madness in #Karachi and #Quetta and stop giving precious airtime to #TuQ and #MQM. This is NOT free #media at all.Moiz Hussain
four blasts in Swat/Quetta, 13 dead in Karachi, and somehow #PoliticalDRONE and #longMARCH #TUQ seem to be the bigger issues! #PakistanSyed Zaigham Abbas
Others feel the violence indicates the urgent need for democratic reform in the country.
#QuetaBlasts and all such events display inability of ruling elite to control the affairs. Stand against corrupt politcal system #14Jan #TUQMustafvi Dervesh
