A Sufi scholar A former professor of international constitutional law and a Sufi scholar Tahir ul-Qadri is the founder and Chairman of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, an education charity promoting religious tolerance. A Canadian national, hailing from Barelvi tradition of south Asian Islam, he emerged from nowhere and organised a march on 14 January 2013 on Pakistan's capital Islamabad with thousands of supporters calling for revolution in the country. It was broadcast non-stop on television. It was no mean feat since marches are usually banned in the city. He was at the centre of a political crisis. He delivered his speeches from behind a bullet-proof window set into a customised container and demanded 'pre-election screening' of candidates so anyone who has broken the law or not paid taxes is barred from standing as a candidate for forthcoming elections. He described Pakistan's establishment as 'looters, thieves and bandits.' Born in Punjab Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadri studied in Lahore.