Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reportedly gifted a horse to Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. According to a letter undersigned by Deputy Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aftab Hasan Khan, that went viral on social media, the ministry has sought permission for flight clearance for a C-130 special aircraft carrying a horse as a gift to the Emir of Qatar.
"A special aircraft (C-130) carrying a horse will travel to Qatar on February 01, 2017. The horse is a gift from the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the Emir of the State of Qatar," reads the letter. "The diplomatic flight clearance may please be obtained from local authorities and conveyed to the ministry at the earliest for special aircraft C-130. The diplomatic flight clearance should be valid for 72 hours for a journey from Qatar to Islamabad on 01 February 2017," the letter further said.
The letter further stated that the aircraft will return to Pakistan on 02 February 2017.
The veracity of the letter could not be confirmed till filing of this report, as there was no official word available from Foreign Office either to confirm or deny the letter. However, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb rejected the reports regarding airlifting a horse to Qatar.
In a statement, she said the horse was to be gifted to Emir of Qatar on the occasion of his visit to Pakistan which was due six months ago, but it could not take place. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has also termed the news item regarding airlifting a horse to Qatar in C-130 aircraft, as baseless and incorrect.