Gilani was forewarned about impending assassination attempt

Islamabad, Sept 4 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that yesterday's attack on his life didn't come as a surprise to him, as he was informed in Lahore about the possible assassination plot on him in Islamabad. Consequently, he added, he had cancelled his travel to the federal capital on Tuesday night.

Giving details of the assassination plot, Gilani that said he had gone to Lahore to attend some official engagements, and was scheduled to return to Islamabad late on Tuesday night. But, before he could fly to the Capital he was told that a plot had been hatched to assassinate him on his return to Islamabad, The News quoted him as saying.

He further said after getting this information, he decided not to fly to Islamabad late night to avoid any such attempt.

However, Gilani did not reveal his source of information and how the agency which leaked this information to him knew in advance about the assassins. Also, it was not known why the secret agency did not go after those assassins after knowing in advance that the life of the prime minister was in danger.

But, this is for sure that the secret agency, which leaked this news to Gilani, had the exact information about the possibility of attack on him in Islamabad.

According to the paper, the prime minister said his travel plan was suddenly changed after considering that if there was any serious threat to his life then the best course would be to travel on Islamabad highway in daylight from the airport to the Prime Minister House instead of using the same road late in the night that might have helped the attackers.

Gilani said when his entourage was going to pick him from the Chaklala Airbase, the assassins had no idea that he was not present in those cars, so they fired bullets. Gilani said the misunderstanding on the part of the attacker(s) had actually saved his life.

Meanwhile, an official said that the recent statements of the prime minister in support of war on terror might be the main reason behind the attack. Gilani has been quite vocal these days and has given full powers to Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to deal with the rising militancy in the tribal areas, said the paper.

Likewise, since his visit to the US, the premier has also been aggressively telling the terrorists that his government would not make any compromise with them and continue the war against those forces which were trying to destabilise the country.

Sources said some unseen forces have tried to frighten Gilani by sending a message to him that his uncompromising support to the operation in the tribal areas might not be appreciated.

ANI