Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani left for India on Wednesday to
watch the Pakistan-India semi-final clash in Mohali.
Speaking to the media at the Chaklala base before departure, Gilani said
he is grateful to his Indian counterpart for the invitation to the match.
The premier said his visit will serve to improve relations between both
countries. Gilani appreciated the interior secretary level talks between
the two neighbours. He also said the morale of the Pakistan team is
very high and he is hopeful for a victory.
Updated from print edition (below)
Nerve-tingling excitement: All roads lead to Mohali
Pakistanis and Indians were on the edge of their seats on Tuesday ahead
of their teams' crucial World Cup encounter at Mohali and Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani's flight to India at the head of a 51-strong
delegation to watch the semi-final.
The premier will fly to India on Wednesday morning and join his Indian
counterpart Manmohan Singh in watching what promises to be a scorcher of
a clash between the two sides.
Life has come to a standstill in cities and towns across the country,
with educational institutions declaring a holiday in Sindh and Punjab
and government offices making special arrangements to view the match.
The excitement was palpable everywhere from Mohali to Lahore and from
Karachi to Gujrat.
The mood is upbeat, more so after the extraordinary bonhomie generated
by the agreement reached by the home secretaries on information sharing
– not just about the Mumbai attack but also in the future.
The Indian team was at the stadium today practicing while the Pakistan
team took over to familiarise itself with the grounds later at night.
The premier's delegation includes seven ministers, their spouses and
members of parliament drawn from several political parties, including
the opposition. A few relatives of the premier are accompanying him on
the trip such as Gilani's brother (and provincial legislator) Ahmed
Mujtaba and his wife, as well as his brother-in-law.
Gilani is not taking any top official of the Foreign Office with him,
indicating that the two sides will not raise any mutual issues during
their encounter at the Mohali cricket stadium. Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will assist the prime minister during
his talks with the Indian prime minister. The two prime ministers are
expected to have a conversation on all issues of mutual interest on the
sidelines of the match.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will reach the venue at 1:00pm.
Gilani and Singh will have a spot of lunch and will watch the match
together. The Indian premier is scheduled to fly back to New Delhi the
same night at around 11:00pm while Gilani will stay on and leave the
next morning. He will be bid goodbye by Governor Shivraj Patil and Chief
Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will hold a press conference
during the match.
To prevent any harm from coming to the Indian or Pakistani team the Taj
Hotel, where the two teams are staying has been sequestered. Both ends
of the road to the hotel are closed.
Gilani will leave Chaklala airbase at 10am and reach Chandigarh airport
at 11.25am (Indian Standard Time), from where he will be taken to Mohali
cricket stadium.
Gilani will spend Wednesday night at the beautifully appointed and
scenic UT Guest House adjoining the Raj Bhavan and a lake (which is
where most of the Pakistani delegation has been housed). Giant TV
screens have been ordered by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao at the UT
Guest House so that those members of the delegation who stay back can
watch the match in the guest house itself.
The official delegation comprises Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar and
Interior Minister Rehman Malik and their spouses, Information Minister
Firdous Ashiq Awan, Haji Umar Gorgage, minister for postal services,
Labour Minister Syed Khurshed Shah, Sports Minister Engineer
Shaukatullah, Minister of State for foreign affairs Hina Rabbani Khar
and her husband Feroz Gulzar, Senator Sughar Imam (PPP), MNA Afsandyar
Wali Khan of the Awami National Party, former minister Qamar Zaman
Kaira, Lt Gen R MNA Abdul Qadir Baloch (PML-N), Munir Khan Orakzai
(Fata), Laiq Mohammad Khan (PML), Sherry Rehman (PPP), Farooq Satar
(MQM), Mrs Naheed Rashid, sister of Farooq Satar, Khawaja Sohail Mansoor
(MQM), Riaz Hussain Pirzada, (PML), Kashmala Tariq (PML), Syed Ahmad
Mujtaba, MPA, Itrat Bano, (wife of Ahmed Mujtaba), Sharmila Farooqi,
Moinul Islam Bokhari, Nargis Moin, wife of Moin Bokhari, Mr and Mrs
Faisal Butt, Mr and Mrs Zahid Rafiq, Badar Zia and his son Attaur
Rehman, Kamran Kiyani and Safdar Kiyani, Mrs and Mrs Shahid Rafique ,
chief of protocol Ghalib Iqbal, principal secretary to PM Gilani,
Khushnood Lashari, press secretary Shabbir Anwar, military secretary
Nasir Dilawar, SSP Imran Mahmood and ADC to PM Shahzad Fatah. Only six
journalists PJ Mir, Rauf Klasra, Saleh Zafir, Nasim Zehra, Quatrina
Hussain and Asma Sherazi have been invited to join the VVIP flight to India.
Govt's gift: Half working day today
Prime Minister Gilani on Tuesday announced that today will be a half
working day in lieu of the Pakistan-India World Cup semi-final.
All federal government offices will close at 12 noon,a press release
issued from the PM House stated.
Gilani is visiting India today at the invitation of Manmohan Singh to
watch the match.
The SC has also made special arrangements. CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
has directed the court administration to install a big screen inside the
auditorium.
Meanwhile Sindh High Court CJ Mushir Alam said that courts in the
province will be closed today.
With additional reporting by Aditi Phadnis in Mohali and by Sumera Khan
in Islamabad.
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