The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday denied that its aircraft has been used for the airlifting of a horse to Qatar, gifted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Emir of Qatar, reported DawnNews.

"It is clarified that the news aired on some channels regarding the airlifting of a horse to Qatar in a C-130 aircraft is baseless and incorrect," said the PAF spokesperson.

Copy of the letter

The spokesperson added that the PAF strongly denies the content of this news.

However, a letter available with Dawn.com stated that a "special aircraft (C-130) carrying a horse will travel to Qatar on 1 February, 2017 instead of 28 January, 2017".

The letter added that the "horse is a gift from the Prime Minister of Pakistan to the Emir of Qatar State"

"The diplomatic flight clearance should be valid for 72 hrs for the journey," the document further added.

The letter was sent by the deputy chief of protocol in the foreign ministry.

Information minister denies gift

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb clarified that the horse was to be gifted to the emir during his visit to Pakistan.

She said on the state-run PTV that the news was baseless and no horse was airlifted to Qatar.