Karachi: In a surprising move Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday withdrew its support to the ‘long march’ of Tahirul Qadri amid a shocking wave of terrorism across the country and cross border escalations, a senior leader of the party said.

Dr Farooq Satter, the deputy chief of MQM in a press conference at Governor House said however his party would support the cleric morally though practically it would stay away from January 14 march.

The move took many analysts aback as until late on Thursday night the MQM remained stuck to its pledge of carrying long march along with Qadri’s Minhajuls Quran Tehreek but they called it a day this morning.

On Thursday, the MQM chief in exile Altaf Hussain delivered a long speech at the party headquarters strengthening his pledge to march towards Islamabad with Qadri to bring in reforms to change the obsolete parliamentarian systems that ensures rule of feudal and elites.

“We would participate in the long march at any cost,” Hussain told his workers on telephone that was connected to huge speakers.

He also justified his party position to join the march being an ally to the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

“In which book it is written that an ally to the government could not participate in the march,” Hussain said and added “when the government goes for some undesirable actions its allies have rights to set them correct.”

A late night meeting was also held in which all the allies of the PPP government, including MQM, at the Bilawal House, where President Asif Ali Zardari headed the meeting.

Even that meeting could not convince the MQM leadership to calling off its support to the Qadri’s march.

“We took the decision in our own internal meeting late last night and in view of the worsening law and order situation and terrorism on internal front and tensions at the borders, we decided to not participate in the march,” Dr Sattar told the media.

He categorically denied the decision was not reached after the meeting with President Zardari and the other allies.

Meanwhile, Tahirul Qadri, the chief of Minhajul Quran Tehreek on Friday vowed to carry his long march towards Islamabad on January 14, despite the government taking all restrictive measures to foil his attempt.

“There must not be any doubt, the march would be carried and carried at any cost,” Qadri told a press conference in Lahore.

His vow came after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the key ally to Qadri, backed off early on Friday saying the were withdrawing their practical support to the march though would moral support would continue.

The MQM attributed the rising incidents of terrorism in the country as the key factory behind their withdrawal.

“They conveyed to me about their decision and they have constituently rights take their position,” Qadri said.

He further said that Allah, people and the media was his strength.

Qadri further said that the government was taking cowardly measures to preempt the rally. The government agents were threatening the bus owners whereas the public ovens (Tandoors) were ordered to be shut in Islamabad so that the participants could not have their breads.

He said his march was very much accordance with the constitution and the courts of law already rejected applications against the protest rally.

Qadri also expressed his concerns that he might be assassinated during the march. In that case, he nominated top notches of the state, federal government and the Punjab province.

He also advised his followers if any terrorism or sabotage take place at the march they must stay calm and must not turn violent.

Qadir said he would assign his last will to his family this night to guide them what they must do after he was assassinated.

Qadri also condemned the bomb blasts in Quetta and Swat where more than a hundred people were killed. He said the government failed to stop terrorism and thus lost the right to rule on the country.

He also said that the nation was with the Pakistan Army for its measures to preserve country’s geographic boundaries and sovereignty.