PESHAWAR: In protest of ‘increasing’ drone strikes in the province, Difa-e-Pakistan Council announced countrywide demonstrations starting June 15.
Provincial leaders of the DPC made the announcement at a press briefing held at the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) provincial headquarters in Peshawar on Sunday.
Talking to reporters, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Sami (JUI-S) provincial ameer Maulana Yousaf Shah said that drone attacks have increased in tribal areas and the DPC will launch a series of protests, which will begin from Peshawar.
Shah said that their conglomerate of 40 parties will stand against US atrocities world over. “DPC protested against American involvement in Balochistan when no one dared to raise the Pakistani flag there,” Shah said.
He added that another protest will be organised at Lal Masjid in Islamabad on June 17, while conventions will be arranged in all provinces with a two-day programme in Muzaffarabad on July 14-15. He said that in Peshawar the DPC rally will start from Ashraf Road at around 9am and will assemble and protest at the Qissa Khawni Bazaar.
He claimed that the country is under US control and the DPC wants to liberate it. There is no moral justification for drone attacks and military operations in K-P must end immediately, he said, adding that dialogue with militants can resolve problems.
JI provincial ameer Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan said the DPC is opposed to resumption of NATO supplies as it is tantamount to US slavery.
Khan said the parliament had asked for ending drone attacks and demanded that the US apologise over the Salala attack, but so far neither of the two has happened.
He also called for media access in tribal areas to investigate who is being killed in the US strikes, adding that the DPC wants to put pressure on the Pakistani government, which is killing its people to please Americans.
JI Secretary General Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Secretary Information Israrullah Advocate, JUI-S General Secretary Ikramullah Shahid and leaders of other parties were also present at the news conference.
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It is good to see some sanity from organizations such as the DPC and JI. We have not seen too much of it in recent times. However, the protests from DPC and JI added to Pakistan making it very clear they are not happy with the U.S. gives one some room for hope. However, if we start to look at the wider picture, and this includes U/S. / Russian and other parties becoming embroiled in Syria and other areas perhaps not. The U.S. appears determined to keep wars going regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately, So many people seem to buy their pathetic reasons for going to war. I think it boils down to the fact that nobody worries about the other person and his family being killed. Let us hope that Pakistan does not become involved or suffer from a wider conflagration, which The U.S. appears intent on creating.
The drone attacks possess the same moral justification that IEDs, suicide bombers, and the attack on the Twin Towers do. And, whether you like it or not, they will continue until we are ready to stop them.
Well said by Ravish that Pakistan must enforce the law in its country if it wants to be recognized as the sovereign power. With satellite technology US has proven the fact Haqqani net work preparing and operating from safe heavens on Pakistani soil. How long one can mince the words and how long facts can be hidden.Rogue attitude has to be given up . After all on what grounds our so called leaders are threatening the world super power. Isolation of Pakistan in global community is already approaching very fast. Frontal attack with US will prove very costly. However it looks as the ignorant, incompetent and short sighted leadership of Pakistan has decided to ask for the doom day.
Sovereignty is a 2-way street, with responsibilities and not just rights. If you don't want the cops busting down your door, you have to take the responsibility in getting rid of the criminals in your basement.
If the US were to not go after the Haqqanis, then the Haqqanis will continue blowing themselves up all over the Americans. No country would accept that. If Haqqanis attack the US, then the US has a right to attack the Haqqanis instead of just waiting to be killed by them.
Sorry, but Pakistan must enforce the law in its country if it wants to be recognized as the sovereign power there. If Pakistan is not upholding the law, then what is the basis to its claim of sovereignty there?
Great to see someone standing up against savage drone attacks.
Here come the loonies from Pakistan! DPC!