Musharraf's allies seek safe exit for him

RAWALPINDI - Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has said that President Musharraf 's allies want a safe passage for him and demand of the coalition government not to use Article 6. He was speaking on the eve of inauguration ceremony of renaming Islamabad International Airport after Benazir Bhutto at Rawal Lounge of the airport. Islamabad International Airport, Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH) and Murree Road were renamed after Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, the former Premier and Chairperson of Paksitan Peoples Party. All the three Ministries concerned have issued the notification in this regard. As per details, the first ceremony of changing of the name of airport was held at Rawal Lounge. Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Muhkhtar graced the occasion as the chief guest. Besides others, Additional Secretary Defence Maj Gen (Retd) Mir Haider Ali, Chief Executive, Civil Aviation Authority Junaid Ameen, Director General of Civil Aviation Authority Farooq Rehmatullah and Manager of Airport Muhammad Ijaz Jadoon were also present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, Ch Ahmed Mukhtar said that the defence of the country had been made secure and invincible. He said that Benazir was alive in the hearts of the people and her sacrifices for the country would not be forgotten. She was a great leader of national and international repute, adding that the ceremony was to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto. The government was making all possible efforts for the betterment of the people of the country, he said, adding that Pakistan International Airline (PIA) contractual employees would be made permanent within a few weeks. Mukhtar further said that 3,500 acres of land had been acquired for Fateh Jang Airport and it would be completed within two years. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman changed the name of RGH and named it as Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital in a ceremony. On the occasion, Federal Secretary Health Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, Managing Director of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal Zumurad Khan, Senator Khawaja Akbar, MPA Nargis Faiz Malik, BBSH MS Dr Muhammad Zaman Niazi and many others were also present. She said that it was an honour for her to be in the ceremony organised for changing the name of this historical hospital after Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Independence Day. She said that the new era of democracy in the country had begun following the vision of the Father of Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Shaheed Quaid-e-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and his great and brave daughter Benazir Bhutto. Sherry Rehman was of the view that the mission of assassinated Chairperson of PPP Benazir Bhutto would continue by solving the problems of the common man. She said that the blood of late BB would not go waste and she would remain alive in the hearts of the people of Pakistan forever and her services rendered for the uplift of the nation would never be forgotten. Sherry Rehman said that BB did revolutionary politics throughout her life, but to get rid of the chaos and crises from the country, she did the politics of reconciliation and even gave her life for this purpose. Replying to a question, she said that charge sheet for the impeachment of President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf was underway and will be finalized very soon. MD Pakistan Baitul Maal Zumurad Khan and BBSH MS Dr Zaman Niazi also spoke on this occasion. Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf declared Murree Road as Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Road while unveiling the plaque here at Liaquat Bagh Chowk. PPP leader Amir Fida Paracha, CEC Member Sultan Mehmood Qazi, Agha Riaz-ul-Islam, Nasir Mir, Sheikh Hameed besides local leadership including a number of PPP Jiyalas were present on the occasion. The Federal Minister offered fateha at the site of BB's assassination and Quran Khawani was also held at Liaquat Bagh. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, speaking on the occasion, said that the sacrifices of Bhutto family were the cause of great political change in the country. He said that the death of BB was an unbearable loss and the whole world mourned the death of the brave leader. He said that the new President would be a civilian and democratic as were the Premier and the Parliament of the country. Coming hard on President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, he said that the game was over and he had to resign and vacate his office as per desires of the 160 million people of the country. The other leaders of PPP also spoke on the occasion and pledged to carry on the mission of the late PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto. APP adds: Talking to journalists, Mukhtar said time for Musharraf is up. He said Musharraf's aides were in regular contact with the government for his safe passage as well as on trial under Article 61. Mukhtar said he had neither praised Musharraf, nor given any statement in his favour, rather he had always given statements about institutions. The government was doing its homework over the impeachment of the President but on the other hand, Musharraf's allies are in contact with the government for his safe exit. Some issues have been settled, while few remain to be solved, he said and added, we will take the entire nation into confidence as the things finalised.

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