Former federal minister and ex-president Zia-ul-Haq’s son Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq has confirmed the ‘exploding mangoes’ theory about his father's death in a mysterious plane crash in 1988. He said that there was an explosion in the mangoes' crate placed in the plane which crashed leading to the death of the then president Zia ul Haq and other high-ranking officials including the US ambassador to Pakistan.
Ijaz-ul-Haq, in an an interview with Turkish publication Anadolu Agency, spoke about the plane crash that took his father’s life – a mystery that remains unresolved. He revealed that former army chief Mirza Aslam Baig, American, Israeli, and Indian spy agencies were involved in the plane crash near Bahawalpur.
The former minister confirmed that there were explosives hidden in a crate of mangoes loaded in the plane. He also claimed that the nerve gas was also injected in a cockpit that was later released, due to which the pilots lost their senses and the plane went down.
When questioned about the mystery of exploding mangoes, he termed the speculation true, saying mango theory was true, there was an explosion in the mango crate. He said the conspirators had used gas to maim pilots, explosives in the mango crates and a projectile that hit the plane from outside. “But the Pakistani and the U.S. authorities have repeatedly denied and described the crash an accident,” he added.
Ijaz-ul-Haq, said the then army chief Miraz Aslam told officers that it was a very sensitive matter and there was a lot of pressure, investigation report should not be announced all of a sudden. “Army Chief then transferred the officers involved in Awan’s interrogation report out of the intelligence service. I had met two of them. I also asked Beg that I want a clarification, but he never gave me one,” added the former minister.
He also said that following the U.S.- Pakistan Air Force joint investigation, the Americans "tried their level best to prove that it was a mere accident".
Aijaz further said that his brother was approached by the intelligence station chief in the U.S. embassy in Islamabad. "He told him to convey to me if I want to pursue a political career, then we should not follow this case", he said.
Ijaz-ul-Haq, in an an interview with Turkish publication Anadolu Agency, spoke about the plane crash that took his father’s life – a mystery that remains unresolved. He revealed that former army chief Mirza Aslam Baig, American, Israeli, and Indian spy agencies were involved in the plane crash near Bahawalpur.
The former minister confirmed that there were explosives hidden in a crate of mangoes loaded in the plane. He also claimed that the nerve gas was also injected in a cockpit that was later released, due to which the pilots lost their senses and the plane went down.
When questioned about the mystery of exploding mangoes, he termed the speculation true, saying mango theory was true, there was an explosion in the mango crate. He said the conspirators had used gas to maim pilots, explosives in the mango crates and a projectile that hit the plane from outside. “But the Pakistani and the U.S. authorities have repeatedly denied and described the crash an accident,” he added.
Ijaz-ul-Haq, said the then army chief Miraz Aslam told officers that it was a very sensitive matter and there was a lot of pressure, investigation report should not be announced all of a sudden. “Army Chief then transferred the officers involved in Awan’s interrogation report out of the intelligence service. I had met two of them. I also asked Beg that I want a clarification, but he never gave me one,” added the former minister.
He also said that following the U.S.- Pakistan Air Force joint investigation, the Americans "tried their level best to prove that it was a mere accident".
Aijaz further said that his brother was approached by the intelligence station chief in the U.S. embassy in Islamabad. "He told him to convey to me if I want to pursue a political career, then we should not follow this case", he said.