Govt complicit in drone attacks: Imran Khan

[ghundal]

Govt complicit in drone attacks: Imran Khan

By Qaiser Butt
Published: April 23, 2011


Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s two-day sit-in on Nato supply route begins today .

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan has claimed that the government was complicit in the US drone campaign in Pakistan’s tribal regions.

In an exclusive chat with The Express Tribune hours before leaving for Peshawar to lead a two-day sit-in, the cricketer-turned-politician strongly criticised the government for its ‘indifference’ to the killing of ‘innocent tribesmen’ in the drone attacks. “They have sold out our sovereignty to our enemies,” he added.
Imran said the people should know that the corrupt leadership could only issue press statements against the drone attacks. “The government should take practical steps to ensure security and well-being of its people,” he said.
Imran said that the United States has killed hundreds of civilians in drone strikes since 2004. The PTI chief and his supporters will be staging the sit-in on the Nato supply route on Saturday and Sunday in protest against continuing US drone attacks. He warned the US of ‘terrible consequences’, if the drone campaign was not called off.
“The US must realise that the Pakhtun never forgive anyone who attacks them. They will avenge a wrong done to them even after 100 years,” he added.
Through his sit-in at Bagh-e-Naran in Hayatabad, near the Pak-Afghan border, Khan wants to invite attention of the international community to the CIA covert war in Pakistan’s tribal regions.
He appealed to the people to join him in his sit-in. “I ask the civil society, journalists, lawyers, tribesmen, political workers and patriotic Pakistanis to…defend their country.”
PTI’s central information secretary Umer Chema told The Express Tribune that the tribesmen and political workers have assured Imran of their full support in making the sit–in a success.
About Friday’s drone strike, the PTI chief said: “It’s unfair on the part of Washington to kill innocent women and children.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2011.

[ghundal]

Imran Khan asks nation to raise voice against fatal drone attacks in tribal areas

ONLINE - International News Network


ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Imran Khan has called upon the whole nation to raise their voice against the fatal drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan by joining the 2-day PTI dharna at Bagh e Naran, Peshawar on 23rd and 24th April. Addressing members of the ”Core Committee” of PTI at the party Central Secretariat in Islamabad on Friday Imran Khan said “We shall have a symbolic block of NATO supply line as a statement of our resentment against drone attacks in which thousands of innocent civilians including women and children have been brutally killed by the US forces”.
He said our government instead of taking practical steps to prevent these attacks, have encouraged the US leadership to continue their inhuman acts and not worry about collateral damage. He said “it’s time that the Pakistani nation should rise above political differences and stand together to achieve its right of life and liberty.”
He added that this will give a clear message to our rulers and their foreign masters that without support of Pakistani public, they can not decide the fate of Pakistani people

[ghundal]

Imran to stage sit-in against NATO supplies

Imran to stage sit-in against NATO supplies

Imran to stage sit-in against NATO supplies


Bureau Report

LAHORE – The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has called upon all the political parties, civil society, traders, lawyers and people from all walks of life to participate in the two-day sit-in in Peshawar today (Saturday).
PTI Chief said that it was the responsibility of every countryman to attend the sit-in for the country’s integrity and sovereignty and give the world a massage that Pakistani nation could never compromise on national freedom and sovereignty.
The two-day sit in will commence today (Saturday) to cut up the supply line of Nato forces in Afghanistan to press Pakistani and US governments to stop drone attacks killing innocent people.
“We should show this to entire world that we are ready to lay our lives for dignity of our country,” he said.
He criticized the government for its pro-US policies saying the rulers had sold the country’s sovereignty for American dollars and they have no business with the lives of innocent people but only to please the US and its allies. “How the drone strikes could be stopped if the government remains a silent spectator about the issue,” Imran Khan said.

Major political parties
extend support

NOWSHERA – Various major political parties have announced to support the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) protest sit-in to be held here in Peshawar on April 23 and 24 against US drone attacks in the tribal areas. – Agencies

[Bengal_Tiger]

Khan is merely stating out the obvious. However not only is the government complicit but so are the much glorified ISI and army who are attribute with amazing super-skills and powers by Pakistani nationalists.

At this rate Khan will win the elections in 2 years time. Khan who has a more open willingness to talk, patriotism and pride may just be the man that saves Pakistan and prevents another "east Pakistan" or even the very end of this country itself.

Maybe, maybe not. We will see.

[ghundal]

TI stages sit-in against drone attacks in Peshawar


Convoys of Tehreek-e-Insaf, Insaf Students Federation, Muslim League-Q, JUI-F, Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan People’s Party Sherpao and thousands of civil society activists are heading towards Bagh-e-Naran Hayatabad, Peshawar, to take part in the PTI sit-in against the drone attacks. It is expected that more than one lakh people were participating in the sit-in. A convoy of 1500 vehicles led by Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan will soon reach Peshawar. Imran Khan said that the government has failed to provide protection to the people and now they have to achieve this on their own. He said that the PTI would observe the sit-down strike in the larger national interest.

TI stages sit-in against drone attacks in Peshawar | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

[PakiPathan]

Imran khan is only advancing someone else's agenda. He is a sponsored politician.

[ghundal]

Imran khan is only advancing someone else's agenda. He is a sponsored politician.

He is advancing his own agenda. I mean he is a politician.

[ghundal]

NATO supply route blocked as Imran Khan leads 2-day sit-in

NATO supply route blocked as Imran Khan leads 2-day sit-in

NATO supply route blocked as Imran Khan leads 2-day sit-in - The Times of India

PTI | Apr 23, 2011, 09.30pm IST
ISLAMABAD: Thousands of people, led by Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan, on Saturday blocked the main supply route for NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan to protest against the US drone strikes in the restive tribal regions.

Several opposition and Islamist groups as wells as tribal elders have backed the protest led by Imran, the chief of Tehrik-e-Insaf party (justice movement).

"I congratulate the people on the successful protest," Imran said, adding the people of Pakistan will continue to protest unless the US halts the strikes targeting the people.

He demanded that the government shut down the NATO supplies through Pakistan.

"Pakistan will not be made a servant of the United States," he said, asking the government to quit the US-led efforts to combat the terrorism.

He said the anti-US protest will gain momentum in the coming days.

Campaigners against the drone strikes from Waziristan region have also joined the protest, amid fast growing opposition to the US attacks.

The protest comes just a day after two US drone aircraft rained missiles into North Waziristan tribal region which killed 25 people, including women and children, according to tribesmen in the region.

The protestors blocked the Khyber Pass, the main supply route for NATO troops in the neighbouring Afghanistan, on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.

The protest forced the authorities to suspend for two days the supplies for nearly 150,000 US-led foreign forces.

Officials said that nearly 70 per cent of NATO supplies are transported through Pakistan, the most risky but shorter supply route.

Anger runs high in Pakistan against the US drone strikes in the Waziristan tribal region, which CIA considers as the base for al-Qaida and Afghan Taliban militants for planning attacks across the border into Afghanistan.

Despite the public resentment and Pakistan's protest, the US administration has rejected any possibility to halt the drone strikes. The message was conveyed this month to the ISI chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, when he met with the CIA boss in the US

Suspected militants regularly attack NATO trucks in Pakistan, which has also forced the US to sign agreements with Russia for alternate supply route.

The protestors will continue the sit-in till Sunday and the organisers said they would announce future strategy at the conclusion of the protest.

[ComradePashtun]

I wonder what that agenda could be, may be you can tell us Ghudak Khan Ghundal, he at the end only have to toe the line. Only sponsorhip works in Pakistan that one has to agree with PakiPathan.

[ComradePashtun]

Who gives a crap, it is the same news over and over.

[ghundal]

who told you to read it :P
No, this guy is genuine. He has dedicated his life to his cause.

[faye]

isn't it terrible, that we (myself included) can only imagine that a person has some agenda other than the truth and honesty? it is very sad but i hope he is genuine because it is soooo needed, for pakistan especially, at the moment. everywhere on the planet as well.

[ghundal]

yeah, this is all an act. He went out to demonstrate because he actually wants more drone attacks against his people. LOL

[BLS_1919v2.0]

yeah, this is all an act. He went out to demonstrate because he actually wants more drone attacks against his people. LOL

Khaana how can you guage his sincerity in respect to others? He hasn't even been politically challenged. So he is all wait and see. His party's supposed platform is a mish mash of populist rhetoric and statements. I will see his political mettle when it is legitimately put to the test. Otherwise, he looks like a political side show to be honest.

[ghundal]

Khaana how can you guage his sincerity in respect to others? He hasn't even been politically challenged. So he is all wait and see. His party's supposed platform is a mish mash of populist rhetoric and statements. I will see his political mettle when it is legitimately put to the test. Otherwise, he looks like a political side show to be honest.

He is genuine. When he first entered politics, there was bomb which targeted him. It was a threat.

This man abandoned his family (ex-wife and two kids) and a nice lavish life in England to work towards his goals for his people, none of which involve corruption and money laundering.

He is sincere in his political stances. He, unlike the ANP and PMAP is taking action to protect his people.

It is time people start recognizing something rather than place some mysterious reason as to why a person is doing such and such.

His mettle is tested. Why is he even in politics in the first place? To take out huge loans from banks, and cause them to fail? I think the Pakistani elite only allow a select few to partake in those fraudulent activities, just like their Kabul elite thieves in arms in Afghanistan.