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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Preacher Challenges Pakistani Leaders | Preacher Challenges Pakistani Leaders |
| (2 months later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — All the makings of a grand entrance were in place when the preacher and political dramatist Muhammad Tahir-ul Qadri boarded an Emirates jet bound for Islamabad: Thousands of his followers awaited his return on Monday, ready to reignite a protest movement that riveted Pakistan for weeks last year. | |
| But the Pakistani authorities were not in the mood to let Mr. Qadri’s stagecraft unfold without injecting a dramatic twist of their own. Soon after his flight entered Pakistani airspace, Mr. Qadri suddenly found himself landing in Lahore, his plane diverted because of “security threats.” | But the Pakistani authorities were not in the mood to let Mr. Qadri’s stagecraft unfold without injecting a dramatic twist of their own. Soon after his flight entered Pakistani airspace, Mr. Qadri suddenly found himself landing in Lahore, his plane diverted because of “security threats.” |
| Pakistani officials would not further explain the diversion, but it was clear that Mr. Qadri and his stated aim to mount a revolution against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government were the threats at issue. | Pakistani officials would not further explain the diversion, but it was clear that Mr. Qadri and his stated aim to mount a revolution against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government were the threats at issue. |
| Last week, his supporters’ clashes with the police in Lahore led to one of the deadliest episodes of Pakistani civil unrest in years, leaving at least eight people dead, including one police officer, and hundreds injured. And from his home in Canada, he has tried for months to remotely assemble a broad political coalition to oppose Mr. Sharif. | Last week, his supporters’ clashes with the police in Lahore led to one of the deadliest episodes of Pakistani civil unrest in years, leaving at least eight people dead, including one police officer, and hundreds injured. And from his home in Canada, he has tried for months to remotely assemble a broad political coalition to oppose Mr. Sharif. |
| Although only a few politicians have signed on so far, there is little doubt about Mr. Qadri’s ability to move crowds. | Although only a few politicians have signed on so far, there is little doubt about Mr. Qadri’s ability to move crowds. |
| A religious orator who founded a huge network of schools in Pakistan and built a following with his fiery denunciations of corruption and the Taliban, Mr. Qadri made his formal debut as a street politician early last year. Unable to run for office because of his dual citizenship in Canada, he set out to wrest political reforms from the government led by President Asif Ali Zardari and his Pakistan Peoples Party. | A religious orator who founded a huge network of schools in Pakistan and built a following with his fiery denunciations of corruption and the Taliban, Mr. Qadri made his formal debut as a street politician early last year. Unable to run for office because of his dual citizenship in Canada, he set out to wrest political reforms from the government led by President Asif Ali Zardari and his Pakistan Peoples Party. |
| Mr. Qadri led a march of tens of thousands of his followers to Islamabad, the capital, then camped in the city for four days of long speeches and carefully managed news conferences. But the demonstrations fizzled when he agreed to talks with government negotiators. | Mr. Qadri led a march of tens of thousands of his followers to Islamabad, the capital, then camped in the city for four days of long speeches and carefully managed news conferences. But the demonstrations fizzled when he agreed to talks with government negotiators. |
| This time, the government he is opposing is different — Mr. Sharif and the PML-N party — but Mr. Qadri is again setting out to change the political landscape. He has denounced Mr. Sharif’s attempts to negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban, and has accused the prime minister and his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, the powerful chief minister of Punjab Province, of governing unjustly. | This time, the government he is opposing is different — Mr. Sharif and the PML-N party — but Mr. Qadri is again setting out to change the political landscape. He has denounced Mr. Sharif’s attempts to negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban, and has accused the prime minister and his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, the powerful chief minister of Punjab Province, of governing unjustly. |
| Mr. Qadri’s critics accuse him of carrying water for the Pakistani military, whose clashes with Mr. Sharif’s government and news organizations have grown more threatening in recent weeks. Both Mr. Qadri and military commanders deny those accusations. Nonetheless, his return is putting huge pressure on the government and the police right as the military is trying to carry out an offensive against Taliban militants in the country’s northwest. | Mr. Qadri’s critics accuse him of carrying water for the Pakistani military, whose clashes with Mr. Sharif’s government and news organizations have grown more threatening in recent weeks. Both Mr. Qadri and military commanders deny those accusations. Nonetheless, his return is putting huge pressure on the government and the police right as the military is trying to carry out an offensive against Taliban militants in the country’s northwest. |
| Tensions have been rising since Mr. Qadri announced that he would return on Monday to lead a protest march from Islamabad to Lahore. All through Sunday, his supporters clashed with the police across Punjab Province, whose main city is Lahore. In Islamabad, the authorities blocked all highways leading to the city with cargo containers and deployed hundreds of police officers. | Tensions have been rising since Mr. Qadri announced that he would return on Monday to lead a protest march from Islamabad to Lahore. All through Sunday, his supporters clashed with the police across Punjab Province, whose main city is Lahore. In Islamabad, the authorities blocked all highways leading to the city with cargo containers and deployed hundreds of police officers. |
| In Rawalpindi, the garrison city adjacent to the capital, supporters of Mr. Qadri wielded batons against police officers while trying to reach the airport to welcome their leader. Dozens of policemen were wounded; they had been instructed not to carry weapons after the violence in Lahore last week led to heavy criticism of the police and the Sharif brothers’ provincial and national governments. | In Rawalpindi, the garrison city adjacent to the capital, supporters of Mr. Qadri wielded batons against police officers while trying to reach the airport to welcome their leader. Dozens of policemen were wounded; they had been instructed not to carry weapons after the violence in Lahore last week led to heavy criticism of the police and the Sharif brothers’ provincial and national governments. |
| Then, the authorities forced Mr. Qadri’s diversion to Lahore. | Then, the authorities forced Mr. Qadri’s diversion to Lahore. |
| Some political analysts say the government has consistently overreacted, handing Mr. Qadri a series of public victories in a battle of nerves. | Some political analysts say the government has consistently overreacted, handing Mr. Qadri a series of public victories in a battle of nerves. |
| “Today’s situation has been handled through administrative means, but essentially it is a political problem,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a prominent political analyst. “And unless a political solution is evolved, the ruling PML-N will continue to face challenges.” | “Today’s situation has been handled through administrative means, but essentially it is a political problem,” said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a prominent political analyst. “And unless a political solution is evolved, the ruling PML-N will continue to face challenges.” |
| “His political significance is not much, but he has capability to create chaos,” Mr. Rizvi said of Mr. Qadri. He added, “When people can challenge a system in the street, it means the system is in trouble.” | “His political significance is not much, but he has capability to create chaos,” Mr. Rizvi said of Mr. Qadri. He added, “When people can challenge a system in the street, it means the system is in trouble.” |
| After his flight was diverted, Mr. Qadri still found a way to dominate the news. He sat in the parked airplane at the Lahore airport for five hours, saying he would not leave until the military authorities talked with him and promised to provide security. “The government has hijacked the plane,” he said, toying with his cellphone as he granted interviews from his seat in business class. | After his flight was diverted, Mr. Qadri still found a way to dominate the news. He sat in the parked airplane at the Lahore airport for five hours, saying he would not leave until the military authorities talked with him and promised to provide security. “The government has hijacked the plane,” he said, toying with his cellphone as he granted interviews from his seat in business class. |
| But his demands for military intervention went unanswered, and Mr. Qadri finally agreed to leave the aircraft. He invited local television stations to cover his departure from the airport as he rode in a bulletproof vehicle to visit supporters who had been hospitalized after the clashes in Lahore last week. | But his demands for military intervention went unanswered, and Mr. Qadri finally agreed to leave the aircraft. He invited local television stations to cover his departure from the airport as he rode in a bulletproof vehicle to visit supporters who had been hospitalized after the clashes in Lahore last week. |
| Frustrated, Mr. Qadri accused the government of using fascist tactics. | Frustrated, Mr. Qadri accused the government of using fascist tactics. |
| “Elder brother is Hitler,” he told reporters, “and younger brother is Mussolini.” | “Elder brother is Hitler,” he told reporters, “and younger brother is Mussolini.” |