Pakistan cricket team will not depart for India till security clearance granted, says interior minister
ISLAMABAD Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday that a security team has been constituted and will depart on Monday for India, to ensure that the Pakistani cricket team is provided complete security while participating in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
“ICC’s security team is in India, but time is short as our cricket team is due to leave on Wednesday. We can delay our team’s departure till we are sure that they will be safe in India,” said Nisar.
He added that a three member team has been formed and will leave for India on Monday.
He elaborated and said, “I have asked the PCB chairman to wait, and the team can wait until the security clearance is assured.”
Nisar said that it is the responsibility of the Indian government to ensure security of the Pakistani team, as the world cup is an international tournament, and India should ensure that security is provided to all participants.
“Until security clearance has been given, our team will not leave for the world cup.”
A senior officer, director in the FIA, Usman Anwar will lead the investigation team, added the interior minister.
Government’s silence on Kamal’s outburst
The interior minister, referring to the recent allegations leveled by Mustafa Kamal against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), displayed displeasure over reports of the government’s silence on the issue.
“I am amazed to hear that MQM leaders are questioning government’s silence over the matter. The government is under no obligation to issue its point of view on every political debate that rages in the country.”
He added that majority of the allegations leveled by Kamal have been mentioned in the past too, and there is nothing new in what Kamal said.
“There was no documentary evidence provided by Mustafa Kamal to support his allegations, they were mere verbal claims,” said Nisar.
Probing money laundering allegations against MQM
The interior minister while referring to the former donor and a close associate of top MQM leaders, Sarfaraz Merchant, stated that a committee has expressed its desire to interview and examine the documentary evidence he is claiming to possess.
“The UK government will be contacted in this regard and this process will start from tomorrow (Sunday).”
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