Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (Urdu: محمد طاہر القادری) (born 19 February 1951) is a Pakistani politician, former law professor and Sufi Islamic scholar.He was a former professor of international constitutional law at the University of the Punjab. Qadri is also the founding chairman of Minhaj-ul-Quran International.
Background:
Qadri learned from a number of classical authorities in Islamic sciences, including Abu al-Barakat Ahmad al Qadri al-Alwari,Tahir Allauddin al-Qadri al-Gilani and Ahmad Saeed Kazmi
Qadri studied law at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, where he graduated with an LLB in 1974, gaining a Gold Medal for his academic performances. Following a period of legal practice as an advocate, he taught law at the University of the Punjab from 1978 to 1983 and then gained his PhD in Islamic Law (Punishments in Islam, their Classification and Philosophy) in 1986 from the same university; his supervisors were Bashir Ahmad Siddiqui (‘Ulum al-Islamiyya) and Javaid Iqbal.He was appointed as a professor of law at the University of Punjab, where he taught British, US and Islamic constitutional law.
Political career:
On 25 May 1989, Qadri founded a political party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT). This party aims to introduce the culture of democracy, promote economic stability, and improve the state of human rights, justice, and women's roles in Pakistan. The PAT also aims to remove corruption from Pakistani politics. Its official website contains its formal manifesto. In 1990, Qadri participated in the national election. In 1991, PAT and TNFJ (Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafria A shia political group), now known as Tehreek-e-Jafria, introduced the idea of political working relationship. From 1989 to 1993, Qadri continuously worked as an opposition leader.
He was also elected as a Member of the National Assembly for his constituency. On 29 November 2004, Qadri announced his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly. Qadri views an Islamic state as a Muslim-majority country which respects freedom, the rule of law, global human rights (including religious freedom), social welfare, women's rights and the rights of minorities. He also claims that the Constitution of Medina "declared the state of Madinah as a political unit". He also mentions that the Constitution declared the "indivisible composition of the Muslim nation (Ummah)". With respect to the Constitution of Medina, Qadri says: "This was the constitution, which provided the guarantee of fundamental human rights in our history." He believes that "a constitution is a man-made law and by no means it can be declared superior to a God-made law."
Long March:
Main article: Long March (Pakistan)
In December 2012, after living for seven years in Toronto, Canada, Qadri returned to Pakistan and initiated a political campaign which called for a "democratic revolution"[this quote needs a citation] through electoral reforms. Qadri called for a "million-men" march in Islamabad to protest against the government's corruption. On 14 January 2013, crowds marched down the city's main avenue. Thousands of people pledged to sit-in until their demands were met. When he started the long march from Lahore 10,000 people were with him.[19] He told the rally in front of parliament: "There is no Parliament; there is a group of looters, thieves and dacoits [bandits] ... Our lawmakers are the lawbreakers." After four days of sit-in, the Government and Qadri signed an agreement called the Islamabad Long March Declaration, which promises electoral reforms and increased political transparency.
Critics have charged that the protests were a ploy by the Pakistan Armed Forces to delay elections and weaken the influence of the civilian government, citing Qadri's close ties to the military, dual nationality and foreign sources of funding. Lawyers for the Supreme Court of Pakistan claimed that Qadri's demands are unfeasible because they conflict with the Constitution of Pakistan. The Tribune reported on 17 February 2013, that Qadri seemed to have capitulated on most of his demands in the Islamabad Long March Declaration.
Founding of Minhaj-ul-Quran
Main article: Minhaj-ul-Quran International
Qadri at the Peace for Humanity Conference, 24 September 2011
Qadri founded a Sufism-based organisation, Minhaj-ul-Quran International, in October 1981 and has subsequently expanded it nationally and internationally.In 1987, the headquarters of Minhaj-ul-Quran, based in Lahore, Pakistan, was inaugurated by Sufi saint Tahir Allauddin, who is regarded as the organisation's spiritual founder. The organisation aims to promote religious moderation, effective and sound education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony, and a moderate interpretation of Islam employing methods of Sufism. Over the past thirty years, the organisation has reportedly expanded to over ninety countries. During its March 2011 session, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted special consultative status to Minhaj-ul-Quran International.Qadri also founded the Minhaj University in Lahore, of which he heads the Board of Governors, as well as an international relief charity, Minhaj Welfare Foundation
