Rehman Malik reacted to a fake news story about naming of Islamabad's new airport.
Highlights
- The Express Tribune carries fake story, catches Pak ex minister off-guard
- The fake story claims Pak airport would be named after Chinese President
- Rehman Malik warns of 'extreme level' of action if airport renamed
Pakistan's former interior minister Rehman Malik on Saturday fell for a April Fool's Day prank when he reacted to a fake news story about naming of Islamabad's new airport after Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Express Tribune earlier ran a story as an April Fool's Day prank on its website that the government has decided to name a new airport in the capital after the Chinese leader.
Hours later the prank elicited a serious reaction from Mr Malik who expressed 'serious reservations' over it as the airport is named after late Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto.
He warned the government that his party would take the issue to an 'extreme level' if it tried to the rename the airport.
"The government should avoid taking any steps which may hurt the feelings of the public," Mr Malik said in a statement issued to the media.
"There is no precedent in the past to rename organisations [or facilities] which are named after national heroes," he said.
He also asked the government for a clarification.