Relief for Pakistan govt as deal ends Islamabad demonstration

Pakistan’s fiery leader Tahirul Qadri yesterday announced that an agreement has been struck with the government to end his four-day protests that had increased pressure on the country’s fragile coalition government. After five hours of talks with a 10-member team, Qadri told his supporters that the two sides had finalized an “Islamabad Long March Declaration.” The government also got some relief when the chief of the state’s anti-corruption agency rejected a Supreme Court order to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. The court ordered Ashraf’s arrest over allegations of corruption in transactions involving power plant rentals when he was power minister. The team that negotiated with Qadri included Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Law Minister Farooq Naek, Commerce Minister Amin Fahim, Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Shah, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar. The talks were held inside Qadri’s bulletproof container. TV footage showed Qadri and the government leaders, visible through the large windows of the container, engaged in hectic consultations. Qadri had given the government a deadline to act on his demands by 3 p.m. yesterday. The government agreed with Qadri to dissolve the National Assembly before its term ends in mid-March, giving 90 days until elections are held, according to a member of the negotiating team. That would give time to make sure politicians are eligible to stand for election, he said. The government also agreed that the caretaker administration, which normally precedes elections, would be chosen in consultation with all parties, the negotiator said. A declaration laying out the agreement between the government and Qadri was signed by the premier. From Arabnews