Dismissing doubts about his party’s resolve against US drone strikes, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Saturday that his party was determined to hold a long march towards Waziristan to protest against the attacks on Pakistani territory. “We are expecting over 100,000 participants in the march and Tehreek-e-Insaf is fully determined to hold the long march,” he said while addressing a press conference after meeting several delegations from Waziristan. “We just have to determine the dates for the long march, and today’s meeting with tribal delegations is a step in this regard,” he added.
On Friday, a news agency claimed that the PTI had cancelled its march towards North Waziristan, that the march would now be headed to South Waziristan. Without referring to North or South Waziristan, Imran told reporters that the detailed route and logistical plan was being prepared for the march. “The tribesmen will themselves arrange security for the participants,” he said, adding that no other party could dare going to that area.