Ministry officials briefed the standing committee about the investigations’ progress and admitted that they have all facts and figures regarding the accident but are not authorized to forward information to the committee, citing some legal issues which will be resolved soon, after which the report will be forwarded to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and made public afterwards.
The NA Committee, however, expressed its reservations on the non- payment of compensation to the crash affectees and directed it to be paid within four months.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar had said that officials know the reason behind the Air Blue crash in 2010, but details could not be made public at this time.
Speaking during a press briefing, Mukhtar also said that some important details regarding the attack on the PNS Mehran base had been uncovered, but these too could not be made public at this time.
These details have however been shared with the national assembly standing committee on defence in private.
Relations with the US
The Defence Minister said that Pakistan is reviewing its relations with the US on the war on terror.
During a meeting of the national assembly standing committee on defence, Mukhtar said Pakistan is spending its own money in the war on terror as the coalition support funds are halted.
He further said that losses continue to mount for Pakistan, in human and financial terms.
The defence minister denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of Mullah Omar and said that after the Bin Laden raid, even if he were here, he would have fled Pakistan.
Pakistan was expecting $500 million (Rs43 billion) in the last tranche of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), which was set up by the US Congress after the 9/11 attacks to reimburse allies for costs in supporting the US-led war on militancy. On April 25, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had announced after a visit to the US that the Obama administration was “firmly committed” to releasing at least $500 to $600 million by June 30.
A finance ministry official said that the US Congress is yet to clear the transaction.
US bases in Pakistan
Mukhtar said that Pakistan told the United States to leave Shamsi air base reportedly used as a hub for covert CIA drone attacks.
"We have told them (US officials) to leave the air base," national news agency APP quoted Mukhtar as telling a group of journalists in his office.
The air strip is 900 kilometres southwest of the capital Islamabad in Baluchistan province.
A US embassy spokeswoman told AFP there were no US military personnel at the Shamsi base.
CNN reported in April that US military personnel had left the base, said to be a key hub for American drone operations, in the fallout over public killings by a CIA contractor in Lahore and his subsequent detention.
Reports said operations at the base, which Washington has not publicly acknowledged, were conducted with tacit Pakistani military consent.
Mukhtar also denied the presence of American troops at Ghazi base in Tarbela, stating that it is being operated by Pakistan.
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Air Blue crash has nothing in common with @nd May and 22nd may. Air Blue is purely PILOT ERROR. Abbot abad was complicity of Our leadership with their MASTERS and Mehran attack was a good follow up to sort out the Navy as well....Air Force and Army having been sorted out on 2nd May. Regarding Air Blue I request all the discussion participants to see my interview on you tube…Islamabad tonite with Mr Nadeem of AAJ TV alongwith MD PIA Jul 28. Just GOOGLE it and it will give the link.It answers all the questions raised. Nobody hit the plane. The Pilot did not follow the MISSED APPROACH procedure which states that anytime the pilot loses visual contact with the runway he will imm open power, start climbing, turn left at 2.5 miles from beginning of Runway 30 ( which is About Chandni Cowk), keep climbing to 9500 feet and contact the control tower. This would have kept him miles from margalla. He smashed into the hills because he opened power very late, after crossing E7 sector and he was only 600 feet or so. There was not sufficient time for the engines to spool up and supply full power…nor was there sufficient distance available for him to gain speed to pull up. It was purely PILOT ERROR. Nobody else to blame. But since our competent governments make everything confidential it gives rise to conspiracy theories. For details pl see the interview. Thanks @samin:
Sir simply Google "Islamabad tonight 28 july 2010. MD PIA and wg cdr Zafar Iqbal" and u'll get the link for AAJ TV.
Thanks
Wg Cdr Sahib,
Unable to find the video even using Google. If you see this sir could you be kind enough to send me the link? I would greatly appreciate that so that I can hear people who know aviation and don't believe in stupid conspiracies.
Thank you.
@Zafar Iqbal Wg Cdr: Sir,
I did not see this earlier. I will go to the link you have suggested. In case I cannot get it, I will trouble you here and perhaps you can forward the link to me.
Best wishes.
i see a common thread between the cover up of airblue crash, mehran base attack, and osama bin laden alleged capture. the defence minister is trying to prortect the incompetency of pakistan armed forces, army, navy and airforce.