Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri on Saturday evening refused to meet the top leadership of PML-Q because controversial property tycoon Malik Riaz turned up with them to woo him to cancel the Jan 14 long march. When Dr Qadri learned of the presence of Malik Riaz, he stormed out and said the presence of Malik Riaz in such meetings usually carried the perception that the negotiating party would be tempted with money.

Malik Riaz along with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, had arrived at Dr Qadri’s residence to try to convince him to delay or cancel the long march.

Speaking to media representatives later, Dr Qadri said that there is an impression that Malik Riaz is used to “purchase people” and said that, “no one in the world can buy even his shoe.”

“I am the disciple of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gillani, even if you put all the wealth of the world together, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s shoe cannot be bought,” he declared.

Dr Qadri’s voice roared that he could be killed but not be purchased.

The patron-in-chief of MQI categorically refused to postpone his protest and said his long march could not be purchased. He reaffirmed his resolve three times that the march would be carried out at any cost, adding that Malik Riaz was not a stakeholder.

Dr Qadri later decided to hold the meeting with Chaudhry brothers when Riaz announced to leave the venue.

Dr Qadri and Chaudhry brothers gave a briefing to the media after holding negotiations.

Commenting on terrorist threats for his long march, Dr Qadri said that threat of any terror attack could be decreased by 75 per cent if only “two individuals” were sent to the place where they deserved to be: prison. He refused to name the persons.

Speaking to reporters, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi clarified that they had brought Malik Riaz with them as his “speedy wisdom” had previously worked under this sort of circumstances.

At the end of the press coverage, he reiterated his resolve three times to lead the long-march on the federal capital at any cost to get his demands met. Dr Qadri said emphatically that he would talk to the government at the end of his proposed march in Islamabad only to discuss the formula and mechanism on how his demands could be met.