Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri (‎; born 19 February 1951) is a Pakistani–Canadian Islamic scholar and former politician who founded Minhaj-ul-Quran International and Pakistan Awami Tehreek. He was also a professor of international constitutional law at the University of the Punjab. Qadri is also the founding chairman of various sub-organisations of Minhaj-ul-Quran International. He has been included in all editions for the rankings of The 500 Most Influential Muslims since its first edition in 2009. Early years Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri was born on 19 February 1951 in the Jhang District of Pakistan. He received non-religious and Islamic Education at a young age. He is the student of Tahir Allauddin Al-Qadri Al-Gillani. He also received a First Class degree, an MA in Islamic Studies and a PhD in Islamic Law from the University of Punjab where he worked as a lecturer and then as Professor of Law. Minhaj-ul-Quran The organisation, Minhaj-ul-Quran International which he founded on 17 October 1980, currently has its branches in over hundred countries. The organisation claims to promote religious moderation, effective and sound education, inter-faith dialogue and harmony, and a moderate interpretation of Islam supposedly employing methods of Sufism. During its March 2011 session, the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted special consultative status to Minhaj-ul-Quran International. Political career He founded Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in May 1989. He contested elections in 1990 where he was elected as a Member of the National Assembly. On 29 November 2004, Qadri announced his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly protesting the dictatorial counter terrorism policies of the then President Pervez Musharraf. In 2005 he moved to Canada. Long March 2012 In December 2012, after living for seven years in Toronto, Canada, Qadri returned to Pakistan and initiated a political campaign. Qadri called for a "million-men" march in Islamabad to protest against the government's corruption. He demand the creation of an independent body to conduct electoral reforms that would pave way for free and fair elections, and said that if the constitutional requirements were not fulfilled then he would reject the upcoming elections. On 14 January 2013, a crowd 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 about 50,000 people were with him. 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 promised 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 suspect foreign and Pakistani 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