In order to condemn recent NATO air strikes on Pakistani posts in Mohmand agency, people from different walks of life, particularly students and activists of various political parties, on Thursday protested for the fifth consecutive day and demanded cutting ties with the United States. Terming the attacks an unprovoked aggression on the sovereignty of the state, they asked the government to revise its foreign policy and quit the US alliance against the war on terror.
Separate rallies taken out by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shazia Aurangzeb, activists of the Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) mainly from the Government College of Technology and the Agriculture University Peshawar, united at the Sher Shah Suri Road in front of the Peshawar Press Club. They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against NATO, and the US leadership. Besides, activists of the PML-Like Minded group led by Malik Riaz and the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) were also seen in the demonstration. The flow of traffic at the main Saddar Road was also badly affected and long queues of vehicles were observed for hours even after the protest ended.
The infuriated students chanted loud slogans against the US and NATO commanders for deliberate attacks on the Pakistani border posts which killed 24 soldiers.
They warned that the Pakistani nation would not tolerate such attacks any more in the future, and that the Americans would have to face serious consequences if they dared to commit any such adventurism. They demanded the government to boldly resist the foreign aggression, instead of mere condemnations. They also demanded the authorities to permanently close NATO supply routes through Pakistan, exile the US ambassador and declare the US an “un-favoured state”. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter of the All Pakistan Transporters’ Association also protested against the attacks at the GT Road and then marched towards Peshawar Press Club.
