ISLAMABAD - Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that Pakistan Awmi Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri should not drag the Army into the politics as their prime responsibility is defence and security of the country.
Talking to media here, he said that Tahirul Qadri has hijacked the plane in Lahore while PAT workers are breaking law on the roads of Islamabad.
The Minister said that the decision to divert plane of Chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Tahirul Qadri from Islamabad to Lahore was taken for his and the security of other passengers.
He said any untoward incident could occur at the Islamabad Airport in the presence of charged crowd there.
He said Islamabad administration has blocked some routes due to security reason.
"Qadri is trying to enrage people on purpose. He has practically hijacked the plane using unlawful means," said the Minister.
He said the government wanted to shift the PAT chief to his residence in Lahore in a safe manner, once he left the plane.
Qadri had refused to come off the flight insisting to go to Islamabad from where the flight was diverted.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid in an interview said that Tahirul Qadri has started his protest campaign at a time when the country started its journey on the road to progress and a decisive operation is underway against terrorism.
He said it seems Tahirul Qadri does not want end of terrorism in the country.
He said the entire nation is expressing support to the Armed Forces at this critical juncture but Qadri is trying to divide the nation.