PAF denies airlifting horse gifted by PM to Qatar emir

E-Paper | October 01, 2026

PAF denies airlifting horse gifted by PM to Qatar emir

Sanaullah Khan Published February 1, 2017

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday denied that its aircraft has been used for the airlifting of a horse to Qatar, gifted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Emir of Qatar, reported DawnNews.

"It is clarified that the news aired on some channels regarding the airlifting of a horse to Qatar in a C-130 aircraft is baseless and incorrect," said the PAF spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the PAF strongly denies the content of this news.

However, a letter available with Dawn.com stated that a "special aircraft (C-130) carrying a horse will travel to Qatar on 1 February, 2017 instead of 28 January, 2017".

The letter added that the "horse is a gift from the Prime Minister of Pakistan to the Emir of Qatar State"

"The diplomatic flight clearance should be valid for 72 hrs for the journey," the document further added.

The letter was sent by the deputy chief of protocol in the foreign ministry.

Information minister denies gift

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb clarified that the horse was to be gifted to the emir during his visit to Pakistan.

She said on the state-run PTV that the news was baseless and no horse was airlifted to Qatar.

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Kamal

Feb 01, 2017 08:10pm

Qatar connection. You scratch my back, I scratch your back.

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ABE

Feb 01, 2017 08:12pm

Emperor Nawaz Sharif is at it again. Just when the UAE announced support of Trump's travel ban on seven fellow-Muslim nations. What's wrong with this man? Or should I ask, when will he start thinking rationally??

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Skeptic

Feb 01, 2017 08:14pm

Small price to pay for a letter of support?? Next, free hunting permits too!??

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Riz

Feb 01, 2017 08:20pm

Perhaps qatari royals demanded this horse in exchange for their letter sequels.

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ABE

Feb 01, 2017 08:17pm

Thanks to the letters from Emir of Qatar. What appropriate gift therefore, than a horse! Oh joy! Qatari brothers, UAE cousins. Saudi masters, glory to all.

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Azhar ALI

Feb 01, 2017 08:23pm

Secrect deals between PM and Qatar rulers are taking Pakistan in to hell.

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Aditya sharma

Feb 01, 2017 08:27pm

Corruption to the spine

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The end is near

Feb 01, 2017 08:34pm

Poor Pakistani Awam don't even have access to the very Basic healthcare facilities and 80% of pakistani people are forced to drink contaminated unhealthy drinking water but our PM is busy giving horses as gifts to Arab emirs in order to get few Qattari letters.

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Tariq

Feb 01, 2017 08:31pm

Pak can not affors gifts , have a poor pupulation. Is there no stop to this stupidity going on by pak politicians.

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Zee in toronto

Feb 01, 2017 08:33pm

Everyone posting a comment here, please also mention who you voted for during elections. Jays koum, waisay hukmaran!!

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Tariq

Feb 01, 2017 08:37pm

A question to all in this forum living in pakistan. How long are you going to tolerate this drain of state values and dictatorship without any consequences?

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Khakan

Feb 01, 2017 08:32pm

@ABE you ask what is wrong with Nawaz Shareef. I ask you what is

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Shakir Ansari

Feb 01, 2017 08:35pm

I could not understand why we are so favorative with Qataris whereas I do not think a large amount of trading and human export is conducted with Qatar.

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Falcon1

Feb 01, 2017 08:37pm

NS is effectively defying the courts, insulting the public's intelligence and undeterred by all the allegations of corruption, favoritism, nepotism and dirty dealings. It cannot get any more blatant than this! In your face attitude and misuse of public funds, resources as he continues to rip off the poor people.

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Huma

Feb 01, 2017 08:38pm

Shame shame shame

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Zain

Feb 01, 2017 08:46pm

Which institution in Pakistan has the infrastructure/training to raise high-quality horses? Where does the horse come from? Who plays polo?

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Najum

Feb 01, 2017 08:40pm

It can easily be crosschecked, if an aircraft indeed took off with a horse on board.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Feb 01, 2017 08:47pm

How low PML-N would go to hide their corruption? Where our country is heading?

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patriot

Feb 01, 2017 08:52pm

FLYING A ,C-130 under PIA. PAF what's going on.????????????????????? Happy Landings.PAF/PIA.

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BAXAR

Feb 01, 2017 08:53pm

Are they using some apps for sharing personal favors? If they do so these apps should be registered, regulated and taxable, as per Punjab government decree. Or is it only for poor people sharing their cars with other poor people?

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NHM

Feb 01, 2017 08:56pm

So what if a plane is used to transport a gift from the Emir of Qatar to the Emir of Pakistan, you people got him to throne, didn't you

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Sami Ullah Swati

Feb 01, 2017 08:58pm

Support letters in lieu of horses. Pretty non-logical relationships in the modern world!

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Tariq, Lahore

Feb 01, 2017 09:04pm

Payment for the 'letters' what else!

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SHAHID MAHMOOD

Feb 01, 2017 09:09pm

@Tariq, Lahore These letters will become fire in the after life.

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layman

Feb 01, 2017 09:10pm

No big deal if a horse is gifted by our PM Mian Muhammed Nawaz Sharif to distinguished guest the Emir of Qatar. Pak Qatar friendship is much above the routine gifts.Qatar have substantial Pak labors and work force,besides Qatar have heavily supported Pak by huge investments . We are proud of our friendship with Qatar.

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salman

Feb 01, 2017 09:11pm

I wonder if the qatri will invest the horse somewhere and in a few years the sharif kids will be driving ferraris? :)

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layman

Feb 01, 2017 09:19pm

@ABE .You are forgetting that Oman another minion friend of Pakistan sold Gwadar to Pakistan for 3 million dollars on 8 September 1958. Alhamdolillah Pakistan enjoy unique friendly relations with all Arab Emirates,Oman,Qatar,Kuwait,Bahrain.

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Khalid

Feb 01, 2017 09:33pm

PAF aircraft being used for personal gains?. This is the reason Pakistan is behind every single country in the region.

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hassan Parvez

Feb 01, 2017 09:46pm

A very small price for the priceless letter.

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Agha Ata

Feb 01, 2017 09:51pm

Where there is smoke there is fire. The question is who brought that horse.

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Khawar Saleem Aslam

Feb 01, 2017 09:54pm

There is nothing wrong in giving a gift. Criticism is very unfair. It is becoming a habit that we ridicule publicly few friends we are left with.

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Harris m

Feb 01, 2017 09:54pm

@salman you are spot on. This is no ordinary horse. It's a stud.

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Khan

Feb 01, 2017 09:59pm

People calling this act ridiculous please also kindly tell everyone who you voted for in 2013? Many thanks.

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Champ

Feb 01, 2017 10:02pm

@salman thats a good one

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Talha

Feb 01, 2017 10:02pm

@layman The Pakistani nation is NOT proud of Nawaz Sharif's friendship with Qataris! Supreme Court please take notice. This is so bold and shameless as if Nawaz Sharif wants to show us that he will do whatever he likes and no Pakistani can do anything about it. Please Supreme Court take noticd. All eyes on you honorable court. The masses don't want to come on roads and want to trust our justicd system.

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irfan

Feb 01, 2017 10:09pm

Jai and Veeru friendship, different is PM and Qatar friend to destroy the system

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Parvez

Feb 01, 2017 10:16pm

Use of country's resources for personal reasons......nothing new.

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Miqbal rangoonwala

Feb 01, 2017 10:25pm

We are committed corrupt peoples

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Waaris

Feb 01, 2017 10:30pm

The gift and mode of transport would have been acceptable if it was done for bilateral national interest and brotherhood. However, this was clearly a bribe by Nawaz Sharif for personal favour from Qatari Shahzada and must be condemned.

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Hopeful

Feb 01, 2017 10:33pm

@Kamal Actually, you scratch my horse and I scratch yours.

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Abdul

Feb 01, 2017 11:30pm

@ABE don't ask the impossible.

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rao zahid

Feb 01, 2017 11:32pm

Inside story of every Government and institution is poor I hope the story is true they can do what they feel good no Pakistan.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Feb 01, 2017 11:50pm

Did Qatar forget the tradition of mutual reciprocation? It is neither a quiz nor a question to be honest. Let me elucidate it.If, A for example, sends a plate of kababs to B then it is standardized practice that B will never ever return empty plate rather something will be put in the plate ad then returned the plate. You will bear me out that at least sugar will be poured into the plate rather than returning it empty. Here when C130 handed over the horse to Qatari ruler, it was very much expected that Qatari will load some gift in the plane so that our PM gets something in reciprocation to his horse gift but perhaps Qatar trampled the noble gesture and plane came back empty. What deterred PM not to ask Qatari about it. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com

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tahir

Feb 01, 2017 11:55pm

Its not good for pakistan that our PM for self intrest using a paf aircraft and the paf should have also tkink about it...

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PML Supporter

Feb 01, 2017 11:58pm

Nothing wrong with sending a gift be it a horse, 12 million dollars or a cup of tea. But do it on personal expense, not with tax payers money on chartered air lifts.

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Balaji

Feb 02, 2017 12:11am

This is the best political news I've come across in years.

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Zak

Feb 02, 2017 12:17am

@Khalid except India. We are ahead of them in every field.

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Princess_of_DHUMP

Feb 02, 2017 12:19am

He should be gifted a 'sher' instead

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Princess_of_DHUMP

Feb 02, 2017 12:14am

@ABE What's wrong with you? 1) Didnt you read the denial above? 2) Its Qatar not UAE!

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sANTOSH kumar

Feb 02, 2017 12:37am

Nothing new.All branches of Govt.are ,were and will always be corrupt.

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Sarwat

Feb 02, 2017 12:50am

Is that a thank you for the Qatari letters? How blind is my nation, they still flock after the likes of Shareefs and Zardari or his family.

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Terba

Feb 02, 2017 12:49am

The horse letter looks quite legit to me. How can Nawaz Sharif deny this??

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AhmeD

Feb 02, 2017 01:15am

What a pity country both rulers and millitary are making fool of citizens who pay for them

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charlie

Feb 02, 2017 01:20am

Its barter. Horse to be paid in exchange for London flats. Watch out SC - a new letter is on its way.

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Kamal

Feb 02, 2017 01:33am

Plan changed for damage control.

Recommend 0

Feb 02, 2017 01:33am

First thing to be cleared by the PM's office is if the horse gifted was from PM's own pocket or from the public exchequer? Second question to be addressed is if public money or public owned assets was used to transport the horse? Well if these questions remain answered, it won't be a shock in a country where it is "normal" to see a motorcade of 7 Mercedes Benz which I saw today in Islamabad with official number plates transporting elites purchased with money of the public which is in want of clean drinking water

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Alba

Feb 02, 2017 01:31am

@The end is near .... Don't forget the contaminated milk.

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Hammad

Feb 02, 2017 01:34am

A gift from our tax money.

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Alba

Feb 02, 2017 01:35am

@Tariq ..... .... It is a conflict of civilizations.... ... The Europeans have based themselves on philosophical thinking, especially on its critical aspect, which developed the capability of producing objective knowledge that is always open to review, correction and progress…” Your civilization is have trouble changing. People still must bow down to sultans.

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Engineer Muhammad Irfan khan

Feb 02, 2017 02:09am

I fully agree with Imran Khan

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Desi bhai

Feb 02, 2017 02:20am

How else they are supposed to take the horse? Should them ride them all the way to Qatar?

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Kirby

Feb 02, 2017 02:50am

I can't vote because I am no a Pakistan Citizen anymore. However, I love my birthplace and the birthplace of my ancestors who shed their blood to secure freedom from a suppressive British Rule. I believe that the Pakistani nation is yet again under a suppressive, corrupt rule. I have been tracking Pakistan Politics. I honestly believe that PPP and PML must be defeated to make room for the next generation of leaders. I believe Imran Khan can provide that type of inspiration to the nation again. Otherwise, more Panamagate, more horse trading and more Switzerland money stashes to continue. Just my two cents from a Pardessi.

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Kirby

Feb 02, 2017 02:54am

@NHM just wondering! Why couldn't they use Qatar Airways! Hahaha

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NowNow

Feb 02, 2017 03:13am

Good inside info Dawn.

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H. Khan

Feb 02, 2017 03:17am

The news is obviously false. Why we, the Pakistanis are hell bent to destroy our relationship with our friends in the gulf region? We have already sent UAE in India's lap. Grow up people and think about your country.

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Sahar

Feb 02, 2017 03:21am

@The end is near this poor awam will vote for zardari next elections..don't feel sorry for them.. they are happy the way they are..

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ysk

Feb 02, 2017 03:35am

And there is section of this society, for which a news they want to believe will remain true and they will run with it even if it has been a fabrication. Air force can deny all they want. They got what they wanted. Salute to this bunch

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Ghani K

Feb 02, 2017 04:08am

Horse , a gift from Takhte Lahore to Emir of Qatar. Why worry, royalties always exchange gifts, they don't need approval from anyone.

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javed

Feb 02, 2017 04:36am

Let's be reasonable, if the Prime Minister gifted this horse then there is no harm, but if Nawaz Sharif gifted it in a personal capacity then it is a different matter altogether.

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anony

Feb 02, 2017 05:13am

And there goes my tax money.

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Cricket FAN -USA

Feb 02, 2017 06:15am

Nothing is confirmed until denied officially.

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Cricket FAN -USA

Feb 02, 2017 06:22am

Never Believe Anything Until It Is Officially Denied - Otto von Bismarck

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Syed Zafat Kazmi U.S.A

Feb 02, 2017 06:39am

A bunch of liars, thugs and thieves who are shameless beyond any vocabulary as the letter printed and signed is right in their face yet they are denying like an ordinary thief and criminal. And this story goes right from top to the bottom in the government. How desperately I pray to God to relieve Pakistan of these vultures who cannibalize their own people so remorselessly.

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sajid

Feb 02, 2017 06:47am

There we go again Mr.Sharif...Pak Peoples are suffering from inadequate medical facilities...and here our prime minister gifts to Qatri Puffs has been airlifted.....Sharif involved in .Panama cases....Free hunting permits ....free gifts...What Qatris has done for Pakistan..

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Riaz Ahmad

Feb 02, 2017 06:41am

@ABE Nothing is wrong with the man, he does what he is good it, and he does it all the time. There is just one wrong and it is the people who elect him again and again.

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Sameer

Feb 02, 2017 06:55am

Way to go. Keeping PAF as the pride of the nation

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waqas ahmad

Feb 02, 2017 07:05am

for God sake PM remember that Qatar is a kingdom but Pakistan is not a Kingdom of sharifs, you have to be answerable tomorrow if not today

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Puthomadre, karachi

Feb 02, 2017 08:01am

A horse for a letter!!, barter system is back

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Zala

Feb 02, 2017 07:55am

Who paid for the horse? The taxpayers or the prime minister?

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Khan USA

Feb 02, 2017 08:05am

What a cheap sell out ! Horses for fake letters to Supreme Court !

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kanwarch

Feb 02, 2017 08:17am

Gifts are never free from anyone. All the cars and other stuff received and the business conducted demand reciprocal actions. Clearly a national security risk and big conflict of interest which should be declared in parliament as it is done in all democracies in the world. God help Pakistan

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kanwarch

Feb 02, 2017 08:24am

Somebody needs to stop the looters of this country and these people should receive example punishment and should not be allowed to leave the country this time.

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Isha

Feb 02, 2017 08:32am

Dawn... You nailed it this time as well. Now I am waiting for Pakistani government to claim letter as bogus.

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Khwarazmi

Feb 02, 2017 08:33am

Barray bandon ki barri batain. Meanwhile, struggle of life continues at home without any gifts from the government to the people.

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Adnan aziz

Feb 02, 2017 08:43am

And the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs does not know that a horse has been gifted to Qatari rulers by the Prime Minister. One does not know how many other matters have been hidden from the Advisor.

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Leena

Feb 02, 2017 08:52am

Check horse may loaded with millions of cash.

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Adeel Saleem

Feb 02, 2017 10:36am

This is NS personnel gift. Which is a return for a favor for his cover in corruption. He must pay all expense from his own pocket rather then spending tax payers money. But again what difference does it make. After all all what he have is Tax payers looted money.

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JKhan

Feb 02, 2017 10:36am

One can judge the dysfunctioning Govrnment from this small news. How foolishly it has been handled. Who should we believe?

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Abu Azaan

Feb 02, 2017 10:54am

Stop poking into the eyes of the poors saying that your name is not in Panama scandal, pleaseeeeeeee

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Abu Azaan

Feb 02, 2017 10:56am

The 12 million darham was transported through camels, really?

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Abu Azaan

Feb 02, 2017 11:07am

When I watch Pakistani TV channels and see the plight of poor people in Pakistan , and then see all this? just disgusting

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Ashraf yousafzai

Feb 02, 2017 02:09pm

Imran Khan and pti is the last and final hope for new pakistan.

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Ahmad Shah

Feb 02, 2017 02:54pm

Where is the poor Pakistani horse now?It should be returned to it's owners.

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Feb 02, 2017 06:17pm

@Zee in toronto perfect. Yes why to complain when you voted for them . Let them loot you more

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