Amid high drama, a Canada- based divisive cleric returned to Pakistan today to lead a "revolution" against the government, but his Islamabad-bound flight was diverted to Lahore amid fears of unrest in the capital as his supporters fought pitched battles with police, leaving over 70 security personnel injured.
Tahir-ul-Qadri, the 63-year-old cleric who drew tens of thousands of supporters for a sit-in protest here in January last year demanding electoral reforms, refused to come out of the plane in Lahore saying the aircraft should be taken to its original destination or the army take him in its protective custody.
But later he came out of the Emirates plane after successful talks with Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar inside the aircraft.
"I am leaving the plane on the assurance of Chaudhry Sarwar who is my friend. He will accompany me to the hospital where my injured workers are being treated and my residence as a guarantee for my protection," he said.
Qadri along with his supporters then left the airport for Jinnah Hospital where over 50 of them are being treated after clashes with police last week.
The thaw in the standoff came after government refused to involve army for negotiations as Qadri had demanded.
Many supporters of Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were present outside the airport in Lahore.
Qadri, who has dual nationality, has come back from Canada to lead what he called a "revolution" against the Nawaz Sharif-led government.
A spokesman for Qadri said he wanted to stage an Arab spring-style revolt and install a government that would enforce reform, tackle terrorism and improve accountability.
Qadri, a religiously moderate cleric who served as a lawmaker under former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, has a substantial following in Pakistan.
There is widespread speculation in Pakistan that Qadri is being encouraged by Pakistan's powerful military, following recent tensions with the Prime Minister.
Today, police sealed off roads to Islamabad airport but some of the cleric's supporters - chanting "Islamic revolution" and "long live the army" - managed to break through the security cordon.
Television footage showed Qadri followers armed with sticks and stones fighting running battles with police wielding batons.
Over 70 police personnel were injured when PAT workers pelted stones at them near the airport in Islamabad, Radio Pakistan reported.
