The other side: Government defends decision to divert flight
Ahsan Iqbal hopes political commotion will be resolved peacefully.
ISLAMABAD:
Giving up hostile political rhetoric, the government appears to have softened up towards the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) as its ministers sought to justify the decision to divert the flight carrying Dr Tahirul Qadri to Lahore on Monday.
“The government wanted to ensure Dr Qadri’s safe travel to his home – which was why he was requested to fly [to Lahore] on a helicopter,” Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Monday. “We want to save his life and avoid allegations the PAT chief has hurled at the government regarding his security.”
Rashid accused PAT workers of jeopardising the security of the twin cities as militants could have taken advantage of the melee to carry out a terrorist act. “We were trying to explain the situation to Dr Qadri but some people were instigating him,” he said.
Dr Qadri hijacked the plane of a foreign airline and made the passengers hostage, he alleged. “It was a hijacking-like situation as most of the passengers on board the plane were from his party.”
Rashid said Dr Qadri should not drag the security institutions into politics at a time when the army has launched a grand operation in North Waziristan Agency. “The army is fighting for the sovereignty and future of the country and it is not advisable to divert its focus,” he added.
Another cabinet colleague of Rashid, however, hoped the political commotion would settle soon. “Despite administrative preparedness, we will make all-out efforts to resolve the issues politically as the nation is in a state of war and cannot afford chaos,” Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told The Express Tribune.
“Dr Qadri is being misguided by some politicians – including the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Imran Khan – who want the former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, to escape from the country,” he alleged. However, he was hopeful the matter would be resolved.
As a first step, the government has involved the Muttahida Qaumi Movement by seeking help from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad to convince an emotionally charged Qadri to disembark the plane. “Dr Qadri was insisting that he would not disembark unless a senior army officer came on board and guaranteed his security.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made separate telephone calls to the Sindh governor and sought his assistance. “We welcome all sensible political parties to come forward and stop undemocratic forces from destabilising democracy,” he added.
In Sunday’s meeting at Jati Umra, the Sharif brothers and their top aides had decided to do whatever they could to defuse the situation politically because the Model Town tragedy had already done damage to the ruling PML-N.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2014.
Giving up hostile political rhetoric, the government appears to have softened up towards the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) as its ministers sought to justify the decision to divert the flight carrying Dr Tahirul Qadri to Lahore on Monday.
“The government wanted to ensure Dr Qadri’s safe travel to his home – which was why he was requested to fly [to Lahore] on a helicopter,” Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Monday. “We want to save his life and avoid allegations the PAT chief has hurled at the government regarding his security.”
Rashid accused PAT workers of jeopardising the security of the twin cities as militants could have taken advantage of the melee to carry out a terrorist act. “We were trying to explain the situation to Dr Qadri but some people were instigating him,” he said.
Dr Qadri hijacked the plane of a foreign airline and made the passengers hostage, he alleged. “It was a hijacking-like situation as most of the passengers on board the plane were from his party.”
Rashid said Dr Qadri should not drag the security institutions into politics at a time when the army has launched a grand operation in North Waziristan Agency. “The army is fighting for the sovereignty and future of the country and it is not advisable to divert its focus,” he added.
Another cabinet colleague of Rashid, however, hoped the political commotion would settle soon. “Despite administrative preparedness, we will make all-out efforts to resolve the issues politically as the nation is in a state of war and cannot afford chaos,” Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told The Express Tribune.
“Dr Qadri is being misguided by some politicians – including the Chaudhrys of Gujrat, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Imran Khan – who want the former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, to escape from the country,” he alleged. However, he was hopeful the matter would be resolved.
As a first step, the government has involved the Muttahida Qaumi Movement by seeking help from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad to convince an emotionally charged Qadri to disembark the plane. “Dr Qadri was insisting that he would not disembark unless a senior army officer came on board and guaranteed his security.”
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made separate telephone calls to the Sindh governor and sought his assistance. “We welcome all sensible political parties to come forward and stop undemocratic forces from destabilising democracy,” he added.
In Sunday’s meeting at Jati Umra, the Sharif brothers and their top aides had decided to do whatever they could to defuse the situation politically because the Model Town tragedy had already done damage to the ruling PML-N.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2014.