The death of Pakistan's air force chief in a Fokker plane crash last week reverberated in Parliament yesterday as opposition MPs voiced suspicions of a U.S. hand in the incident. But Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali rejected the apprehensions as an attempt at "playing to the gallery".
| "It's gotta be some sort of infidels plot..." |
Liaqat Baloch, leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), said the timing of the February 20 crash "gives enough reason to be suspicious as there is disturbance on Afghan borders and there is a tremendous pressure on Pakistan due to Iraq crisis. On Afghan issue after 9/11 Air Chief Mushaf Ali Mir had refused to give bases to the United States. There are reports in international media that the United States is testing aircraft jamming technology in the region as part of its preparations to attack Iraq," Baloch said.
You knew this was coming, didn't you?
| Yeah. If I was gonna test aircraft jamming technology, I'd go to the Pak-Afghan border area. (I'm not sure why...) |
He said a military plane crashed in Iran and then there was the Fokker incident in Pakistan and subsequent crash of a Cessna plane in which Afghan minister Mohammed Jumma Mohammadi was killed. "If it is true that the United States is testing this weapon, then it is a crime against humanity," Baloch said.
Our secret electronic weapons at work.
| If the U.S. isn't testing weapons in the area, and all three crashes are a result of crummy maintenance, as I suspect they are, then I'd say that's a crime against humanity. A little less reading the Koran, a little more reading the manuals, okay? |
"The air marshal had the guts to say what others cannot say," said MP Tehmina Daultana from Pakistan Muslim League party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. She added that the Fokker was a safe plane and asked, "How could it crash like that?"
| I dunno. Maybe Mahmoud left a wrench in one of the air intakes? Or maybe Lashkar e-Jhangvi decided they were all infidels and apostates and such... |
MMA member Hafiz Hussain Ahmed demanded that a parliamentary committee should probe the crash and present a report. "The nation is still in the dark about the C-130 military aircraft crash in August 1988 that killed then president General Mohammed Ziaul Haq," Ahmed said.
You really want to dig into that one, Ahmed? Be careful, you might find something.
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, parliamentary leader of Pakistan People's Party of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, said a timeframe should be fixed for the official investigation. Defence Minister Rao Sikander Iqbal told the National Assembly that a high-level inquiry team comprising air force officers, technical and medical experts was looking into "all aspects" of the Fokker crash. "Whether it was human error, technical fault, bad weather or sabotage, any speculation is premature," Iqbal said. "On receipt of the inquiry report, the public will be informed about it," the minister said. "It is unjust to speculate as a team of very experienced experts is conducting investigations," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said.
I guess offering the help of the NTSB is out of the question?
Prime Minister Jamali, dismissing the opposition suspicions, criticised the tendency to draw "political mileage" from the incident. "The investigation committee is doing its work and there is no need to be touchy and itchy about the matter," Jamali said.
Now that's a slap! Way to go, Jamali! |