Kamra attack retaliation for military offensive: Imran

[Friend]

Kamra attack retaliation for military offensive: Imran

Afzal Khan and Rehan Siddiqui / 17 August 2012

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI - Pakistan’s two main opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) have taken exception to US defence secretary Leon Panetta’s statement that army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani would soon launch military operation in North Waziristan against the Taleban.Imran Khan, who arrived in Karachi on Thursday, said that the attack on Kamra airbase was in retaliation for the use of force in the tribal area and drone attacks and opposed the idea of launching a military operation in North Waziristan.
Talking to the media at Karachi airport, the PTI leader said that his party had opposed the idea of a military operation in North Waziristan from the very first day.
He also warned that the law and order situation will worsen in Pakistan if the present government decided to toe the US line and launched an operation in North Waziristan.
“The latest attack on Kamra airbase is primarily due to the ongoing operation in Waziristan and the continued drone attacks. The only way out for Pakistan is to get out of this war which has nothing to do with Pakistan,” Khan said.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of PML-N warned that the proposed operation would lead to serious backlash in the tribal areas.
Chaudhry Nisar cautioned against a backlash of the proposed military offensive saying that any new military campaign will fuel terrorism.
“The military should not plunge the country into a war at the behest of foreign powers,” he said while addressing the media in Islamabad.
Nisar said the country had been suffering as a result of the US-led ‘war on terror’, and added that “launching a new offensive in tribal areas will surely ignite a fresh wave of unrest, extremism and terrorism.”
He also asked the military’s top leadership to abide by parliamentary resolutions, and said that considering the government’s ‘unwise decision’ to resume Nato supplies, the people would never support a military operation in North Waziristan.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2012/August/international_August519.xml&section=international&col=

[Shah-i-Kot]

Imran urges government to extricate itself from US-led war

http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1228655/

August 17, 2012
RECORDER REPORT
Following Kamra incident, Imran Khan, chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) urged the authorities to separate Pakistan from US imposed war on terror to avert such incidents in future. In an exclusive talk with Business Recorder during an annual Iftar dinner of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) held at a local hotel here, he said Pakistan has no option but isolation from US imposed war on terror to prevent terrorism in the country.

Replying to a question, he said, "although Taliban have denied their statement related to him, some 30 groups of Taliban are operating and they are free to give any statement". He said that PTI is not following 'choose and pick policy' and nobody has so far been designated for any position in the party, especially in its Sindh chapter. He said members of PTI are empowered to elect any party member for any position within the party.

He said that Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) has put baseless allegations on SKMCH&RC just to conceal their corruption. He said that PML-N had adopted the same tactics in 1997 that caused to have provided severe financial shocks to SKMCH&RC and at that time, the hospital was about to close but the endowment funds have prevented its closure.

He said that politicians instead of espousing tit-for-tat approach to hide their weakness should offer themselves for accountability in case of any allegation was imposed on them. He said that after PML-N allegations, they have approached the court with the aim to close the doors for such wicked political tactics against highly transparent institution.

He said that allegations from PML-N were preplanned act that was aimed at preventing masses to donate funds (Zakat) to SKMCH&RC during Ramazan. Moreover, Imran said such confuted campaign against SKMCH&RC could not work as the institution has now been recognised at international level and added that Britain government has awarded most prestigious award to him on his services.

Chief PTI said that God has bestowed his uncountable blessings to Pakistan in terms of natural resources but the absence of good governance and rule of law are impeding its progress and exemplified Muslim reign, which was stretched to over 700 years and Rome Empire as model cases of rule of law and good governance.

Chairman board of governors of SKMCH&RC said that although they have selected a land for hospital in DHA, Karachi, the Defence Housing Authority has refused to allot the same for welfare hospital but offered them to construct commercial health facility at the place.

He said that they have planned to construct state-of-the-art hospital in Karachi and requested the business community to come forward and help the board for acquiring the land for the purpose. Earlier, Arif Habib, chairman Arif Habib group said that Imran Khan always supports professionalism and the SKMCH&RC is running with transparent and highly professional manner. He also assured his full support in Imran's war against cancer.

Mian Zahind, one of the leading businessmen urged masses to donate more for SKMCH&RC as the hospital requires Rs 180 million to install latest equipment for diagnosing cancer at curable stage. S.M Munir, a leader of the business community, who donated Rs 5 million to SKMCH&RC, dispelled the impression of embezzlement in SKMCH&RC's account, saying that the hospital has established most efficient and transparent account system.