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According to various sources, the dharna by Imran Khan has proved to be an utter failure at least speaking about the first day. One source informs the number of people attending the dharna on the first day was 2000 at most. The daily The News Punjab-based and algined with the establishment puts the number at 5000 whereas PTI was expecting a rally of at least 1,00,000. This 5000 too include PTI workers from Punjab etc.
"PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan warned the rulers here on Saturday that if they failed to heed the aspirations of the people, they would be sent to countries where they have stashed the looted money of the nation.
He was addressing a gathering of several thousand PTI workers and supporters on the first day of the two-day sit-in at Hayatabad in Peshawar to record opposition to the US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas. A token blockade of the vehicles carrying supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan via Hayatabad and the adjacent Khyber Agency also came into effect on Saturday.
The cricketer-turned-politician said the event was a message for the ruling parties that people were ready to launch a movement against them in line with people’s struggle in Tunisia and Egypt.
“The sit-in will prove to be a historic occasion and the herald of a prosperous, independent and democratic Pakistan. We will never allow a foreign country to dictate to us and kill innocent Pakistani citizens. We are here to declare that drone attacks are unacceptable,” Imran Khan declared. “We reject abject slavery and want to make Pakistan a truly democratic country,” he said.
Imran Khan spoke at the Bagh-e-Naran Chowk in Hayatabad after reaching Peshawar leading a big procession of vehicles from Islamabad.
“People with slavish mentality can never do a great job. I was told that it would be dangerous to hold a gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the peaceful ‘dharna’ has proved that people want freedom from slavery and foreign dictates,” he said.
Imran Khan said that people will have to struggle hard to make Pakistan a truly sovereign country. He said that due to the meaningless and endless war Pakistan has so far suffered a loss of $68 billion while in return the US government provided just $27 billion. The rulers are leading the country towards destruction, he alleged.
The PTI chief informed that PML-N leader Javed Hashmi and Marvi Memon of PML-Q would also attend the sit-in today (Sunday).
Party workers started gathering at the venue since morning. The presence of the workers was thin until Imran Khan reached Hayatabad with a huge cavalcade of workers and supporters.
The provincial party leaders expected a gathering of around 100,000, however independent observers estimated it to be ‘several thousands’. Some put it around 5,000. However Imran Khan expressed hope that the number of workers and sympathizers to take part in the sit-in on the second day would be in lakhs.
Party workers from Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Kamoke, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan attended the gathering. People from tribal agencies including Khyber Agency, Kurram and North Waziristan were also seen chanting slogans in favour of their leader and against drone strikes.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Prof Mohammad Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), former bureaucrat Roedad Khan, member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan Kamran Khan, ANP dissident MNA from Mardan Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, tribal MNA Zafar Bhittani, Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister Fauzia Siddiqui, Abdul Jalil Jan of the JUI-F, Ayaz Wazir, Amna Masood Janjua and others.
The speakers criticized the government for insufficient and indecisive actions to stop the drone strikes. They demanded of the government to take concrete steps to prevent the innocent Pakistanis from being killed by drone attacks. They said that it was a national issue and everybody should rise above political divide and take a common and firm stand against the drone attacks.
Strict security arrangements were made around the venue. Police cordoned off the entire vicinity. However, there were some entry points where people were moving freely.
Food stalls and drinking water was made available at the venue. Some of the people were seen with pillows, rugs and sheets apparently to make arrangements for their night stay.
Imran Khan was accorded warm welcome when his procession from Islamabad entered Nowshera district.
PTI provincial chief Asad Qaiser along with party office-bearers and scores of activists cordially received Imran Khan and accompanied him to Jehangira town. The PTI chief also went to Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak.
On his arrival to Shobra Chowk in Nowshera, hundreds of PTI workers and supporters holding party flags chanted slogans in favour of their leader.
Earlier, Imran Khan met with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Samiul Haq at his residence in Akora Khattak. The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation keeping in view the prevailing situation.
"
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrin...3&dt=4/24/2011
"PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan warned the rulers here on Saturday that if they failed to heed the aspirations of the people, they would be sent to countries where they have stashed the looted money of the nation.
He was addressing a gathering of several thousand PTI workers and supporters on the first day of the two-day sit-in at Hayatabad in Peshawar to record opposition to the US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas. A token blockade of the vehicles carrying supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan via Hayatabad and the adjacent Khyber Agency also came into effect on Saturday.
The cricketer-turned-politician said the event was a message for the ruling parties that people were ready to launch a movement against them in line with people’s struggle in Tunisia and Egypt.
“The sit-in will prove to be a historic occasion and the herald of a prosperous, independent and democratic Pakistan. We will never allow a foreign country to dictate to us and kill innocent Pakistani citizens. We are here to declare that drone attacks are unacceptable,” Imran Khan declared. “We reject abject slavery and want to make Pakistan a truly democratic country,” he said.
Imran Khan spoke at the Bagh-e-Naran Chowk in Hayatabad after reaching Peshawar leading a big procession of vehicles from Islamabad.
“People with slavish mentality can never do a great job. I was told that it would be dangerous to hold a gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the peaceful ‘dharna’ has proved that people want freedom from slavery and foreign dictates,” he said.
Imran Khan said that people will have to struggle hard to make Pakistan a truly sovereign country. He said that due to the meaningless and endless war Pakistan has so far suffered a loss of $68 billion while in return the US government provided just $27 billion. The rulers are leading the country towards destruction, he alleged.
The PTI chief informed that PML-N leader Javed Hashmi and Marvi Memon of PML-Q would also attend the sit-in today (Sunday).
Party workers started gathering at the venue since morning. The presence of the workers was thin until Imran Khan reached Hayatabad with a huge cavalcade of workers and supporters.
The provincial party leaders expected a gathering of around 100,000, however independent observers estimated it to be ‘several thousands’. Some put it around 5,000. However Imran Khan expressed hope that the number of workers and sympathizers to take part in the sit-in on the second day would be in lakhs.
Party workers from Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Kamoke, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan attended the gathering. People from tribal agencies including Khyber Agency, Kurram and North Waziristan were also seen chanting slogans in favour of their leader and against drone strikes.
Those who spoke on the occasion included Prof Mohammad Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), former bureaucrat Roedad Khan, member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan Kamran Khan, ANP dissident MNA from Mardan Khwaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, tribal MNA Zafar Bhittani, Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister Fauzia Siddiqui, Abdul Jalil Jan of the JUI-F, Ayaz Wazir, Amna Masood Janjua and others.
The speakers criticized the government for insufficient and indecisive actions to stop the drone strikes. They demanded of the government to take concrete steps to prevent the innocent Pakistanis from being killed by drone attacks. They said that it was a national issue and everybody should rise above political divide and take a common and firm stand against the drone attacks.
Strict security arrangements were made around the venue. Police cordoned off the entire vicinity. However, there were some entry points where people were moving freely.
Food stalls and drinking water was made available at the venue. Some of the people were seen with pillows, rugs and sheets apparently to make arrangements for their night stay.
Imran Khan was accorded warm welcome when his procession from Islamabad entered Nowshera district.
PTI provincial chief Asad Qaiser along with party office-bearers and scores of activists cordially received Imran Khan and accompanied him to Jehangira town. The PTI chief also went to Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak.
On his arrival to Shobra Chowk in Nowshera, hundreds of PTI workers and supporters holding party flags chanted slogans in favour of their leader.
Earlier, Imran Khan met with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Samiul Haq at his residence in Akora Khattak. The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation keeping in view the prevailing situation.
"
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrin...3&dt=4/24/2011
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