Tahirul Qadri refuses to disembark in Lahore, urges army to protect him
Qadri's flight EK-612 landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport at 9:35am.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief and the founder of Minahjul Quran International Tahirul Qadri on Monday refused to exit the plane at Lahore airport.
Talking to Dunya News from inside the plane, Qadri said he will only go home if Army provides security.
“We need guarantee from Pak Army,” he added.
Qadri claimed that ‘terrorists in police uniform and plain clothes are waiting for him outside.’
“The Sharif government is a murderous state. They have killed many of our supporters. We have confirmed reports they have hired terrorists to carry out attacks on their opponents,” he said.
Expressing confidence in army, Tahirul Qadri said he will only hold talks with military leadership.
“I only trust the army; their high officials should come and escort us safely to our home.”
Earlier today, Dr. Tahirul Qadri s flight EK612 was diverted from Islamabad towards Lahore.
His flight was expected to land at the Benazir International Airport at 8:30am but the data showed airplane circulating over Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Later, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported that the flight was diverted towards Lahore.
SECURITY MEASURES
PAT supporters in large number managed to breach police cordon to arrive at the Lahore airport and chanted pro-Qadri slogans.
More than 150 policemen in plain clothes are present at Lahore airport. A helicopter is also available at the airport that might shift Dr. Tahirul Qadri to Model Town area.
Security was tight in Islamabad ahead of his arrival, with the government deploying armed personnel at all entry and exit points of the capital and blocking roads leading up to the airport with shipping containers.
The government has imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi prohibiting the gathering of more than four persons at a place and blocked all routes to and from Islamabad airport, even as PAT supporters hold protests in support of Dr Qadri in various cities.
