Highlighting drone destruction: PTI outlines route of Waziristan march
As anticipation builds up for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) South Waziristan peace march, party vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi outlined the rally’s route on Saturday and declared that the world would finally see the massive destruction caused by drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Along with Central Information Secretary Shafqat Mahmood and other prominent party members, Qureshi urged the interior ministry to ensure that visas are issued to international human rights activists and journalists whose participation will help project the problem on an international scale.
The vice chairman said the PTI had taken a bold step to come forward and show solidarity with the people of South Waziristan who were living under perpetual threat. Qureshi added that while the country’s assemblies passed resolutions against drone strikes, and officials, including the president, often raise their voice against them, the inability to take any meaningful, follow-up action assures the Americans that they continue to act with impunity.
Qureshi cited recent reports published by New York University and Stanford Law School stating that drone attacks cause tremendous collateral damage and were in strict violation of human rights.
According to the PTI leader, the march will start from Islamabad’s Blue Area and will proceed towards Balkasar, Talagang, Mianwali and DI Khan on October 6. On October 7, the rally will gather at Tank and then head towards South Waziristan where a public meeting will be held at Kot Kai.
In a statement issued by the PTI, party spokesperson Ahmed Jawad said all the tribes of Waziristan appreciated the peace march and the Mehsud tribe has offered to provide security to the participants. Any attempt by the federal or provincial government to stop the march will result in serious consequences, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.
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very gud i lkie imran ur mind
PTI is again rocking and will show the world the brave steps!
@Pak jurn , At present they are busy in waziristan after this Baluchistan then comes the number of Kashmir and Assam . Drone will chase terrorists in each nooks and corners of world . Wait and see .
offcourse they will rally were the security is on the top otherwise they would not held the rally. imran khan just remind me of mursi in egypt. good for nothing but just propaganda. and people will find out later and regret as usual.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Mehsud is a big tribe, only a few of its people are involved in militant activities.A large part of this tribe is internally displaced and many are refugees...I suggest you get the facts straight my friend.
@Ch. Allah Daad: What have you been smoking when you blame all the Mahsud tribe for 'killing our soldiers'? IT shows how much you know about the tribal areas. Maybe its time to join the peace caravan and see for yourself. Maybe its time to wake up and smell the coffee!
@Iron hand: If you know the history and geography, you should be aware that these tribal areas have their own control... there is no police there are no courts and there is no constitution of Pakistan there... Yes, there is Pak Army, but when it is not able to protect itself how can it offer protection to massive rally.. That area had always been governed and ruled by local tribes.. even there was no army in that area before 2004..
It's a great step towards Pakistans disengagement from this WOT.
End all US 'aid' (payment for NATO supplies and drone attacks)
End the war. Peace in Afghanistan . Peace in the region .
Imran khan is the most popular politician right now
The vast majority of the drone strikes are in North Waziristan. Why does IK not have the courage to go to North Waziristan and show how friendly and peaceloving the natives are there? Going to the South Waziristan is a typical IK publicity stunt! For IK to say that this is not our war just dishonours and demoralizes our soldiers, their families and the victims of terror attacks.
Khan sab i appreciate you and your team on your work. that is very difficult task to go waziristan. May you live long. keep it up. you are the people to whom God has given the task to save Pakistan. Imran khan zindabad Javeed Hashmi Zindabad Shah Mehmood Qureshi Zindabad Jhangir khan tareen Zindabad
@Dr. A.K.Tewari: give me that explanation when they start bombing Asam or Kashmir or any other separating state....
Why was Waziristan off limits for journalists and human rights activists the last 10 years? If so many innocents died you could have proven your point ages ago. As that did not happen, the only logical conclusion is that there is much to hide in Waziristan, like bodies of foreign fighters (not Americans, Israels or Indians!) El Qaida members, anti NATO Taliban etc. etc.
This one time march will be a careful orchestrated show piece that would have brought tears in the eyes of a Stalin or Mao, both masters of public deception.
South Waziristan? I thought they were going to North Waziristan! Why, what ahppend now? Are they going at all? My guess is they would not go beyond Attock. My guess is that Imran Khan is after all not as dim as he appears to be or at least he is not deaf, he got his friends Talibans message pretty clear and would comply.
@ Afzaal Khan , Come back safely from there it is then you will know the fact . Lol
I hope TTP will actually make good on a threat for once. I don't want him dead, but lets see some tears at least. It's the only way to wake a simpleton like Imran Khan up.
Is there a plan to reign in this lawless land? Stopping drone attacks will just make the renegades stronger if Pakistan can't reclaim this territory. Stopping drone attacks might kill fewer people in the tribal areas but a greater number of lives will be lost across Pakistan and at some point, the problem will need to be dealt with. I don't see any solutions here. I also don't see Pakistan ever saying 'no thanks' to the handouts.
@Dr. A.K.Tewari
Let me guess RAW told u that LOL.
Shame on PTI for getting assurances from Mehsud tribes who have killed thousands of our brave soldiers.
@Usman Khan: How inhumane of you to say such a thing?
@Usman Khan: I'm as big a fan of cricket as any, but if you believe a game is more important than standing up for lives of your countrymen, I feel sorry for you.
we eulogized the peace caravan move by the PTI to show the world that the people living in the Waziristan are peace loving and innocent. government should provide security instead of halting them towards the peace convoy.
October 7 is T20 final, Bye Bye PTI, No more stunts...
What if Pakistan is to play T20 final that day? Media will have a reason to forget this event completely!
I am praying for its success.
Why are "tribes" required to provide security within a sovereign area of Pakistan? Where are the police? Where is the army? Where are the courts? It's almost as if the Pakistani government has no control over what transpires in this area! ;-)
Every human being will appreciate this.
Good Initiative! Now PTI moral will be increased......... we should support them.
PTI zindabad.
Enough talking has been done on the drone issue, all (including me), should now start walking. Good luck IK. It will be so nice to see you in South Waziristan. No more drones Obama. Regards.
It seems that PTI is going in full steam to Waziristan and preps are in final stages. Bold step in favour of the innocents who are dying and those who are left behind orphans and destitute.
If Imran wants a solid victory, he needs to end drones and the NATO supplies.
He probably will lay out his plan on how to do both when he takes over .
Imran has said he will end all foreign 'aid' and I suspect this is his way of ending drone attacks and NATO supplies since no money will be taken to permit both
Go ahead KHAN....WE ARE WITH YOU INSHALLAH, THIS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR PTI