RIYADH: Pakistan will soon expose the killers of Saudi diplomat Hassan Al-Qahtani, who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting near Saudi Consulate in Karachi on Monday, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, the visiting Pakistani Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said at a press conference here Saturday. Dr. Firdous said security agencies have arrested several suspects and investigations are on, “but we cannot tell for sure at this stage that those arrested were involved in the killing of the Saudi diplomat.” Not giving a definite time frame, Dr. Firdous said “very soon we will able to indict the perpetrators who killed Al-Qahtani in cold blood. Whoever the murderer(s) would be we will bring them to justice,” she said. Dr. Firdous arrived in Riyadh Friday on a six-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. She is leading a 14-member delegation. She also held bilateral talks with her Saudi counterpart Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, and Noura Al-Fayez, Deputy Minister of Education for Girls. Dr. Firdous said Al-Qahtani's killing was sad and painful. “We have extended our heartfelt condolences to the diplomat's family, the Saudi people and the government of Saudi Arabia,” she said. Dr. Firdous did not rule out the possibility of foreign elements in the killing of Saudi diplomat. She said it would be premature to comment about the possibility of a foreign hand involved in the Al-Qahtani's killing “but elements that want to sabotage bilateral relations between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could be behind the killing,” the minister said. Pakistan, she said, was yet to take a decision on repatriation of relatives of Osama Bin Laden. “A decision is yet to be taken on the repatriation of next of kin of Osama Bin Laden. However, it was decided that Osama's relatives will not be handed over to the Americans,” she categorically said. Dr. Firdous said during her separate meetings with the Saudi ministers she discussed bilateral issues and called for broader media cooperation between the two countries. She said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed to establish a joint media commission with professionals from both sides as members. They would work to exchange “classified information” between the two countries. This will help take bilateral relations to new highs, she added. She said she discussed with Khoja on possibilities of telecasting news in Urdu targeting the millions of Asian workers, particularly from, India and Bangladesh living in Saudi Arabia. “This can be based on Jeddah Radio module that's already airing news bulletin in Urdu language,” she pointed out. She said Pakistan state television PTV has been telecasting news bulletins in Arabic language, “and we would want to have similar slot granted to Urdu news bulletin on Saudi television channels. Besides, a special program on Haj can also be aired for Urdu-speaking pilgrims,” she said. Dr. Firdious said she also discussed with Minister Khoja the need for activation of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for portraying the true image of Islam. “Pakistan thinks there is an immediate need for holding a ministerial meeting of the OIC states in this regard,” she said. “The OIC should act as a trend-setter for programs such as inter-faith dialogue to change the negative perception of Islam in the international community,” said Dr. Firdous.
