Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan on Saturday warned the country’s rulers to immediately review their pro-American policies or get ready for an Arab World-like uprising, saying there would be no point of return once the masses’ sit-ins on roads get prolonged. “The government must stop cooperation with the US until a complete halt to drone attacks on innocent tribesmen,” Khan said while addressing people at his party’s two-day sit-in against drone attacks inside the country’s territory. The PTI’s two-day sit-in would conclude today (Sunday).
Thousands of PTI workers, tribesmen from almost all seven agencies of FATA and six Frontier Regions, leaders of other political parties and civil society organisations joined the sit-in to protest the unabated drone strikes in the Tribal Areas. Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief Ibrahim Khan, JUI-F provincial leader Abdul Jalil Jan, former federal minister Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti, MNA from North Waziristan Muhammad Kamran Khan, MNA Zafar Baig Bethani, former ambassador Ayaz Wazir, Dr Fauzia Siddiqi, tribal elders and media anchorpersons also took part in the sit-in. Political observers called the rally a successful show in given security environment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The number of participants was estimated at around 5,000, much lower than expected numbers. However, a majority of the participants, especially from the remote Tribal Areas, came to participate in the rally on their own expense. Welcoming the participants, Khan said this was just the beginning of a long struggle against the US and her agents in Pakistan, and would continue until the freedom of the country from American slavery. “We have cut off NATO supply line for just two days as a warning, but will completely block the route with the support of masses if drone attacks are not stopped,” Khan warned. Prof Ibrahim Khan said they would support every effort to make Pakistan a truly independent state and free the “rulers from American slavery” to make our own decisions.
MNA Zafar Baig Bethani said he had clearly stated on the floor of the House that the US was not carrying these drone strikes, rather our own government was behind the attacks. “Drone attacks are carried with the permission of President Asif Ali Zardari,” he alleged. Dr Fauzia, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqi, severely criticised both the civilian and military rulers and brought bangles for them to wear. She said instead of leading, the government and army had miserably failed to bring back the daughter of the country. Abdur Raziq Shinwari from Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency, told Pakistan Today that they had come to seek their rights and support Imran Khan, “who at least came out to raise our issues”.
“No other party did so, and we will be backing those who fight for us,” he said. Malik Adam Khan, Subedar Nawab Khan and Hafeezullah Khan were representing Kurram Agency and came from Sadda, the main town in the sectarian hit tribal region. “We have been totally neglected in the last six decades and no one provided such a public stage to let us express our views freely. We want justice, just like other citizens in the country,” Hafeezullah demanded.
