ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected three namesproposed by Nawaz Sharif-constituted committee for Islamabad’s new airport,without specifying any particular justification.

The committee formed by Nawaz Sharif – two weeks before hisdisqualification – under Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo andcomprising Adviser on National History and Literary Heritage IrfanSiddiqui, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and SpecialAssistant to the Prime Minister on Law Barrister Zafarullah, had proposednaming the airport after Liaquat Ali Khan, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, orGandhara.

However, during one of the recent meetings of the federal cabinet, theprime minister rejected all the three names after listening to thearguments of his colleagues.

According to well-placed sources, a thorough debate was held during themeeting in question, with most of the participants stressing that theairport should be named after some Pakistan Movement personality so that noone could change its name on political grounds in future.

A majority of the ministers agreed that the name should be Liaquat Ali Khanairport, however, the premier did not approve the name, Dawn News reported.

The Islamabad airport would become functional from May 3, however, its namehas not been finalized to this day.

Pakistan Peoples Party has vehemently proposed naming it after its slainleader, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, however, the government has not given ago-ahead to the proposal.

Moreover, Khursheed Shah, Opposition leader in the National Assembly, hadalso threatened to move court, if the facility is not named after BenazirBhutto.

Earlier, a mock flight of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), carryingnearly 250 family members of the national flag-carrier’s employees, toucheddown at the New Islamabad International Airport on April 7.

PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Musharraf Rasool Cyan observed the mockexercise.