Islamabad, Oct 8 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted the unconditional apology from Pakistan's chef de mission Dr Mohammad Ali Shah for his unilateral decision to carry the country's flag in place of the nominated flag-bearer, Shujauddin Malik, at the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games in India.
Sources revealed that Gilani has also directed the sports ministry to take appropriate measures to avoid such untoward incidents in future, the Dawn reported.
Earlier, during the CWG opening ceremony in New Delhi, when the Pakistani contingent arrived on the ground, the announcer said the former gold medallist, weight-lifting star Malik was leading the side.
However, TV viewers were startled to see that an aged person was holding the flag and leading the contingent.
Later, in an even more embarrassing footage Shah was shown pulling the flag from Malik's hands moments before the team marched into the stadium.
Malik then revealed that Shah had threatened to send him home if he complained. As a result, Pakistani weightlifters threatened to pull out of the Delhi Games.
Gilani, taking serious notice of the incident, ordered an inquiry, in which Shah claimed he did not know Malik was to carry the national flag.
To diffuse the crisis, a meeting was held in New Delhi after the ceremony with Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Hasan in the chair, during which Shah tendered an apology to Malik. By the time the inquiry report was sent to Gilani, Shah also sent an unconditional apology to him. (ANI)
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