Gilani cancels Birmingham visit over security concerns

Pakistan

Gilani cancels Birmingham visit over security concerns

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The Prime Minister has been forced to cancel his visit to Birmingham over security fears.

12 May,2012 02:38 pm

Yousaf Raza Gilani had planned to address PPP supporters at the International Convention Centre on Saturday, BirminghamMail reported.The “community meeting” was suddenly scrapped for fears of a serious security breach by protesters,” according to a Pakistani official who helped organise the PM’s UK visit.The official said: “It was left to the High Commission of Pakistan in London to make the necessary security arrangements but it was decided the rally had too many risks attached to it.“Any boisterous situation could develop which could be a public relations disaster for the prime minister who is already under a lot of pressure.”News of the cancellation came after Pakistan’s Supreme Court convicted Mr Gilani of contempt for failing to instigate an investigation into allegations of corruption by country’s president Asif Zardari.The ruling could see Gilani forced to stand down and be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament for five years.In a 2010 rally at the ICC in Birmingham President Zardari was attacked with a shoe by a protester from Coventry who later received a police caution.Birmingham-based opponents of Pakistan People’s Party said they had been planning mass demonstrations outside the ICC today but were not aware of any threats to his safety.Mohammed Nazam, of the Kashmir Independence Alliance, said: “The truth is that it is too embarrassing for Gilani to appear in Birmingham after he has been so publicly humiliated by the Supreme Court.“His President had a shoe thrown at him when he last visited Birmingham and I guess Gilani fears he will get an equally cold reception.”Mr Gilani arrived in the UK on Tuesday and attended the state opening of Parliament in London before meeting David Cameron.