'Petty act' to remove Benazir's name from new airport: Rabbani

Rabbani asks PM to withdraw the 'inappropriate decision'

Former chairman Senate Raza Rabbani, expressing his displeasure over the change in name of the new Islamabad airport, termed the decision as a "petty act".

"I am given to understand that the move of renaming the said airport was at the behest of certain civil bureaucrats in the Civil Aviation Authority. This petty act will not subtract from Shaheed Mohatarma place in history but is a sad reflection on us as a nation and more particularly on your government," said Rabbani in a letter penned to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

"The national print media of the instant date, carries a statement of the PM's Advisor on Aviation confirming that Benazir Bhutto International Airport will henceforth at its new premises be called, Islamabad International Airport," said Rabbani and added that if the news is correct, it is an unfortunate reflection on how the country honours its civilian national heroes.

Rabbani further stated that in memory of her assassination, the airport was renamed Benazir Bhutto International Airport. "This is not uncommon, I am sure you will recall that Idlewild International Airport, New York, USA was renamed as John F. Kennedy (JKF) International Airport after his assassination in Dallas Texas. A large number of airports throughout the world bear the names of prominent international personalities."



Keeping in view of the fact that monuments and naming of important national buildings with the name of the civilian leadership are already far and few, you will withdraw this uncalled for and inappropriate decision, added the former chairman Senate.

Earlier, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah talking about the new Islamabad airport, said it should be named after former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, warning that he would approach the Supreme Court if that did not happen.