The Emirates flight 612, carrying Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri from Dubai to Islamabad, has been diverted to Lahore.

The plane has landed in Lahore now and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, the Chairman of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has been asked to disembark. However, he has refused to do so and wants to go to Islamabad instead.

Qadri has called this state terrorism. He asked if the PML-N wants to shed more blood in Lahore. He has requested the army to take notice, the core commanders to come over and take responsibility for his life. Only then will he leave the airport. He accused the PML-N of allowing terrorist organizations to work with the police and called this plane diversion a “political hijack.”

Information Minister, Pervez Rashid has stated that the army is for the defense of the country and should not be dragged into politics. He also ensured that Tahir-ul-Qadri’s plane has been diverted from Islamabad to Lahore because of security reasons. He said that a helicopter has been provided to Qadri for commuting from the airport to his party’s secretariat in full security. He said there are thousands of people in Islamabad and there are fears of a terrorist attack, which Qadri had himself confirmed earlier. Rashid in turn called Qadri's attemp to not allow anyone to enter or leave the plane a "hijacking." 

Meanwhile hundreds of PAT workers have gathered at the Lahore Airport, waving flags and chanting slogans. 

A helipad has been prepared near the Lahore airport and Minhajul Quran University. Six cars of the elite force are at the airport at the moment and over 150 security officials are asked to finish this mission in the next half an hour.

The government has imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi, under which a gathering of more than four people is not allowed. All roads to Islamabad airport have been blocked.