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Pakistani anti-corruption march due in Islamabad Pakistani anti-corruption march reaches Islamabad
(about 20 hours later)
An influential Pakistani preacher and thousands of his supporters are due to reach Islamabad on Monday as part of a "long march" against corruption. An influential Pakistani preacher and thousands of his supporters have reached Islamabad on Monday as part of a "long march" against corruption.
Tahirul Qadri, a preacher who returned to Pakistan from Canada last month, is leading a call for electoral reforms.Tahirul Qadri, a preacher who returned to Pakistan from Canada last month, is leading a call for electoral reforms.
He left the city of Lahore on Sunday with thousands of supporters, with the intention of gathering more support on the way to the capital.He left the city of Lahore on Sunday with thousands of supporters, with the intention of gathering more support on the way to the capital.
Pakistan is due to hold general elections in a few months' time. The authorities accuse him of trying to postpone elections due by May.
Speaking to reporters before the march began, Mr Qadri said he wanted measures put in place to prevent corrupt people or criminals from standing for elected office.Speaking to reporters before the march began, Mr Qadri said he wanted measures put in place to prevent corrupt people or criminals from standing for elected office.
He also wants the military and judiciary to be involved in installing a caretaker government to oversee the forthcoming elections.He also wants the military and judiciary to be involved in installing a caretaker government to oversee the forthcoming elections.
The government is due to disband in March, and elections must then be held within six weeks.The government is due to disband in March, and elections must then be held within six weeks.
By Sunday evening the organisers claimed that around 200,000 people had joined the slow-moving convoy of cars, buses and trucks headed for Islamabad, but this could not be confirmed independently and police did not give their own estimate.
Army linksArmy links
It is not clear when the march will reach the capital, and authorities there have already warned that Mr Qadri and his supporters will not be allowed into the city centre. By the time it reached Islamabad, an estimated 10,000 people had joined the slow-moving convoy of cars, buses and trucks.
More crowds were waiting in Islamabad to greet the cleric. An extra 15,000 police were deployed on the streets and many parts of the capital were sealed off.
Authorities in the capital had warned that Mr Qadri and his supporters would not be allowed into the city centre. The government has warned that militants may target the marchers.
Mr Qadri's flamboyant preaching style and expensive television campaigns have raised his profile in Pakistan in recent weeks.Mr Qadri's flamboyant preaching style and expensive television campaigns have raised his profile in Pakistan in recent weeks.
But there has also been widespread speculation that he is backed by Pakistan's powerful military, and is being used to reassert the army's control over Pakistani politics.But there has also been widespread speculation that he is backed by Pakistan's powerful military, and is being used to reassert the army's control over Pakistani politics.
Mr Qadri said he rejected this allegation. "I have no link with military institutions," he told Reuters. "I am one of the biggest staunch believers... of democracy in the whole world."Mr Qadri said he rejected this allegation. "I have no link with military institutions," he told Reuters. "I am one of the biggest staunch believers... of democracy in the whole world."
He was a prominent supporter of former army chief Pervez Musharraf when he seized power in a coup in 1999, and served in the national assembly under him before moving to Canada in 2006, where he ran a charity.He was a prominent supporter of former army chief Pervez Musharraf when he seized power in a coup in 1999, and served in the national assembly under him before moving to Canada in 2006, where he ran a charity.
In December he was able to mobilise tens of thousands of supporters at a rally in Lahore, but it remains unclear how much support he enjoys across the country.In December he was able to mobilise tens of thousands of supporters at a rally in Lahore, but it remains unclear how much support he enjoys across the country.