Tahir-ul-Qadri's plane lands in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri’s plane has landed in an airport of Lahore after it was diverted from Islamabad, ARY News reports.

The flight was scheduled to land at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad.

The website of Emirates Airlines had confirmed that the flight has been diverted. The plane was hovering over Islamabad Airport for more than half an hour before it was instructed to move to Lahore.

It should be noted that PML-N led federal government had offered Tahir-ul-Qadri to move to Lahore via helicopter after arriving in Islamabad but he refuted the offer.

Scores of PAT activists and delegations of various political parties are present at Benazir Bhutto International Airport to receive Tahir-ul-Qadri upon his return to Pakistan from Canada.

Security has been beefed up and cellular services are being suspended in Lahore on the occasion. Telecommunication authorities have said that mobile phone services will remain shut till further notice.

Earlier, clashes were witnessed between PAT workers and police in which tear gas shells were fired and baton charges were lodged to disperse the crowd.