PESHAWAR: Reacting to US President Barack Obama’s admission of drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal belt, elders from North Waziristan have announced a long march from the tribal belt to the Parliament House in Islamabad on February 25.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, elders from different tribes of North Waziristan condemned President Obama’s drone programme. They termed the strikes as a “massacre of the innocent,” and announced their plan to stage a sit in before the Parliament House.
Amongst the elders were Malik Jalal, Malik Ghulam Khan, Malik Gulshah Alam and Malik Fareed. They belonged to the Dawar, and Ahmedzai Wazir tribes of North Waziristan.
Malik Jalal Waziristani, claimed that the drones only targeted areas where there was no writ of the government. While Malik Ghulam Khan argued that innocent people were killed in drone strikes. “We have approached the government and political parties, but there seems to be no end to this,” he said.
They announced their intention to stage a long march from Miranshah in North Waziristan to the federal capital. “We will make important announcements there,” promised the elders.
They said members from political parties, the civil society and students are expected to join the long March which will march first from Miranshah to Bannu, Bannu to Peshawar and ultimately on to Islamabad.
The tribesman challenged the claim that there were ‘foreigners’ in the tribal areas. They said that the drone campaign has made their lives extremely difficult. “Innocent people have been massacred for the last ten years,” they said.
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Despite the resolution passed in the parliament against the drones, still Pakistan is getting attacked, this is highly unacceptable in a democratic environment. US government should review their policies.
Owais
http://syedowais.blogspot.com/
They should go on a Hunger-Strike. Don't eat or drink anything until the US stops drone strikes ! That will teach the Americans a lesson they will never forget !!
@Shakky: For your kind information, they are already fighting with Taliba. Don't you read the newspaper many times I have seen that scorers of people died against fighting with Taliban. These elders are from the militia formed by the Army & govt to fight with Taliban and other militants.
They are running away from Waziristan instead of defending it.
We are with our Pakistanis tribal bethrens.
First let the federal government rule your land and then talk about going to Islamabad. It will take one week for Islamabad local government to clean the rubbish you create there.
@faraz: yes...strategic assets for both US and Pak...both would not be where they are today...why single out Pak only Mr.Faraz (an alias ofcourse)
@ali: your gov dont have the guts to react...how would army independently take this action...why blame army?
Everyone here is calling tribesmen cowards and hypocrites which I think is absurd.If these drones are rained over,say Lahore,Karachi and Islamabad then they will be breach of our sovereignty despite legitimate al-qaeda and Taliban hideout.All people will be out on the streets.Similarly, if these drones hit targets in the neighborhood of these courageous and truthful persons on this forum,it will be icing on the cake. It is very easy to comment on things in your drawing rooms away from the actual scene,esp. if the news is also filtered and tailored to suitable purpose. As for as foreign terrorists in tribal areas ,these people came here through proper channels in 80's with approval from our government,army and ISI.No one asked the tribal people in this regards.Some tribal elders questioned this strategy then ,were killed subsequently. I think Tribal people are just for sacrifice.Whenever Pakistan needs men to fight ,they are forwarded but when enjoying the fruits comes then there is no share for Tribal people.
How's this for a "leak" - Gen. Petraeus, current CIA director is meeting with jihadi leaders for peace deals. Where's the outrage?
Taliban are our strategic assets so army wont expel them, US wants to kill Taliban, and Taliban are ideological fanatics who wont lay down arms; tribals are stuck between these three. They are the real victims of terrorism and anti terrorism efforts
These hypocrites will never long march against suicide bombings killing thousand of innocent pakistanis but will only long march when the killers are killed by drones.
Drone should be stop, otherwise Imran Khan should have join Fata people.
Great stuff!, hope they take over.
Tribal elders dont really need to bother a long march at all. Did they seriously believe that inviting international terrorists from Middle east and Central asia had no consequences ? If tribals want Govt help, they first need to clean their act and reject the militants. Until then, I personally don't care however many long marches they do.
What a joke, why dont these people do a long march against the terrorist activities of the pak taliban
@John B: U were the one who kept insisting that people of FATA support drone attacks, Do u still believe???
Oh really ? And no march when militants based in Waziristan play havoc in Afghanistan and Pakistan ?
They can march all the way to Islamabad to protest drone strikes but they can't march to the village next door to prevent suicide bombings and attacks against the Pakistan army. They have the will to complain about drones killing innocent bystanders, but they don't have the courage to apologize to the countless victims of Taliban attacks. The word "tribal hypocrites" comes to mind.
Took you ten years? Martin Luther King or Gandhi you ain't. While your doing your sit in please take the time to explain why Pakistani troops need your permission to enter your domain or why your tribesmen seem to be in a perpetual state of war with Pakistan.
Plz cut the budget of the air force if it cannot shoot down the terrorist American drones.
Why does the announcement for a long march have to coincide with Pak Govt's condemnation? These strikes are happening since last 7 or 8 years. People were getting killed all this time and no protests from Waziristan.