Army has allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s peace rally to enter South Waziristan.
The permission was granted after Masood Shareef held talks with army officials when they were stopped at Kodh check post.
Earlier, PTI s peace march against US drone strikes reached Tank area after removing the containers that were placed at Manjhi Khel check post while the local residents of Tank have also joined the rally.
Thousands of Pakistanis, joined by US anti-war activists, headed Sunday morning toward Pakistan’s volatile tribal region to protest American drone strikes.
The rally headed by former cricket star turned politician Imran Khan is designed to throw a spotlight on the drone attacks, which many Pakistanis oppose because they say the strikes violate their sovereignty and kill civilians.
The motorcade started from Islamabad Saturday morning, and after an overnight stay in the city of Dera Ismail Khan, departed for the tribal belt.
In a televised speech before the convoy got under way Sunday morning, Khan thanked his supporters and the U.S. group.
“We have achieved the goal of this march. Our message of peace has reached the world. I am thankful especially to the American group that came a long way here to join this protest against drone attacks,” he said.
Thousands of supporters turned out along the route on the road outside Dera Ismail Khan to cheer on Khan and the convoy of supporters and accompanying media, which stretched about 15 kilometers (9 miles) long.
Supporters packed into vehicles waved flags for Khan s political group and chanted: “We want peace.”
Earlier, demonstrators pushed aside shipping containers blocking their way in two cities on the way to South Waziristan, an indication of the size of the crowd and its fervor.
A senior official in the South Waziristan administration, Hameedullah Khattak, vowed that the motorcade would not be allowed to enter the tribal area, citing security concerns.
“We will not let them in South Waziristan for security reasons. Here is a major security situation and we cannot provide them security,” he said.
Army allows PTI’s peace rally to enter South Waziristan
