The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has offered to provide security to Imran Khan for his party’s proposed rally in Waziristan, The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday. Senior Taliban commanders said a recent meeting headed by the group’s leader Hakimullah Mehsud set aside earlier instructions to send suicide bombers to assassinate the former all-rounder. Instead the group noted Khan’s strident opposition to US drone strikes against militants in its territory as it reversed course to offer security assistance. A spokesmen said: “We are ready to provide them security if they need. We endorse Imran Khan’s plea that drone strikes are against our sovereignty,” he said. “The anti-drone rallies should have been taken out by the religious leaders long ago but Imran had taken the lead and we wouldn’t harm him or his followers.” At a press conference, Khan said he had been promised the support of local tribes but was worried the government was opposed to allowing foreign peace campaigners and journalists to attend. “We feel no threat from any side but feel threatened by the forces which have been playing politics on this issue,” he said. “The government should take steps to provide security to the media persons, who would be covering the every bit of the proposed peace march.”
Taliban offer protection to Imran Khan
