Yousuf Raza Gilani dispels rumors about paying ransom for his son’s release

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani talked to reporters on Friday and set the record straight about his son, Ali Haider Gilani’s release. It was being said on the social media that Ali Haider had been released after paying a huge ransom to the Taliban. However, Yousuf Raza dispelled these rumors and maintained that Ali Haider was saved through a joint operation by the US and Afghan forces.

“All people on social media are not our friends. There may be some other people on social media who do not like us,” the ex-premier said in response to a question whether ransom money was paid for the release of his son.

“There has been a military operation on a foreign country’s soil, leaving several al Qaeda terrorists dead. This resulted in the release of Ali Haider from Afghanistan. The credit goes to the forces of United States and Afghanistan. I appreciate them.”

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader said that he has been receiving calls from political leaders from all across the globe, congratulating him on his son’s release. He revealed that Democratic candidate for US presidency, Hillary Clinton, also called him and said that ‘we are fighting the war on terror and we have a partnership with Pakistan.’

When asked whether Ali Haider’s plans to write a memoire and accept Steven Spielberg’s offer for a movie, the former PM said that it is up to his son to decide that.

Ali Haider was kidnapped in May, 2013, and he remained in the Taliban’s captivity for three years. He was finally rescued this week by the US and Afghan forces and sent back to Pakistan.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=52995

Posted by fatimaarshad on May 13 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.