‘Safe passage to Musharraf under review’




Friday, August 15, 2008

By Muhammad Anis

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has spoken about the contacts between President Pervez Musharraf’s associates and the government aimed at seeking a safe passage for him.

He was talking to newsmen at a ceremony here on Thursday to rename the Islamabad International Airport as the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. The minister said that aides of Musharraf had approached the government to seek a safe passage for him. Most of the details in this connection had been finalised, Mukhtar said, adding that they would be made public soon. He said the aides were demanding that the trial of the president should not be held under Article 6 of the Constitution.

Answering a question, Ahmed Mukhtar denied having given any statement in favour of President Musharraf, adding that there should be no soft corner for the violators of the Constitution. He said the days of Musharraf were numbered and he himself should quit.

To a question, the minister said the contract employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be regularised within two weeks. However, the issue of daily wage employees would be taken up later.

Earlier, the minister unveiled the plaque renaming the Islamabad International Airport as the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. During the presence of the minister, the PIA daily wages employees demonstrated for their regularisation.

Agencies add: The minister said that 3,500 acres of land had been acquired for the new Islamabad airport that would be completed by 2010.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=16610