PTI Chairman Imran Khan endorses the Amnesty International report on drone strikes. PHOTO: FILE
The Amnesty report holds USA responsible for causing numerous casualties in Pakistan and Yemen. Imran, in comments tweeted from the PTI account stated that drone attacks are a violation of human rights and as well as the sovereignty of Pakistan.
"Such drone strikes should be halted immediately as they are adding fuel to militancy in Pakistan."
Imran tweeted that the "federal government should act upon the resolution of the APC to put an end to drone strikes."
The strikes have killed as many as 2,500 people according to a UN report on drones. These include nearly 400 civilian casualties, with nearly half of them children.
COMMENTS (27)
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Most of the comments have said it all - great to see how the majority see through Taliban Khan or Buzdil Khan - both names apt for such mad views!!!
Tomorrow in in 2-3 days time, Pakistani Awam will hear the news that they had been waiting to hear for nearly 3 months now. Yes, they shall know who shall be their next COAS. It is commonly believed in Pakistan that NS could not announce the appointment of the next COAS without approval from Obama.
@Go Zardari Go!!:
Confirm, you are a JUI or JI supporter. You didn't like the mention of minorities from imran bhatt. You are now a true Pakistani.
imran bhatt you speak my language. Keep it up
According to PTI, Drone strikes are the biggest problem Pakistan faces at the moment. Very poor IK and PTI.
@imran bhatt: God forbid if a Pakistani ever stays on topic.
ahmer, that is an excellent view. We need more people like you.
Talib Khan should also demand arrest or hand over the killers of more than 50000 innocent people of pakistan by TTP or at least the killer of your own PMA"s
@ModiFied:
Rubbish. If you read the article you would discover that the "offense" was carrying higher than normal level of weapons/ammunition and ship is suspected of being a resupply ship to private security firms hired to protect ships preyed on by pirates. Ship only ended up in India because it was fleeing typhoon. No threat to India and no dispute with USA.
So what would Imran have done different from Nawaz if he were the PM? - Gone to UN? Nawaz already did that. - talked abou this to the US foreign office publicly in US?
The only remaining thing is shooting down a drone. Neither Nawaz nor Imran can do that because your army ell not follow your orders if you give such orders.
Let us assume that drone attacks are stopped but TTP still continues its deadly attacks, one can bet a million dollar that IK will still not condemn Taliban and instead find some other excuse to defend their barbarities.
Radicalism is not a group, it is an ideology, it can spring anywhere and in anyone. Ideologies can only be fought with other ideologies. Develop those sensitive areas, bring education and relief to the people who have seen nothing but deprivation since Pakistan came into being. Then we can see how many men with filled bellies and happy families would want to take out their AK-47 and kill civilians, leaving out the possibility of suicide bombings. If talks with militia are a negative stance and continuing battle is a positive one, why has it not given us any solid results since it started? Instead, military expenditure keeps on increasing. Which in turn effects the country's economy drastically. Militia on the other hand has increased since 2003. Should we as Pakistanis be willing to send in more of OUR troops against the militants? Or should we adopt intelligent strategies to uproot the problem altogether? Talking about drones, do you think Americans will stop at KP border? Sooner or later it will be all of KP. Want proof? Did my people not witness how our sovereignty was mutilated in the Quetta operation? Secondly, please have a broader vision. TTP's actions are not aligned with Islam, if they were, they would have welcomed peace talks immediately, infact their office might have been set up even now. It is very important to NOT underestimate the foreign support that TTP has. From India, USA you name it. If KP and Baluchistan develops, Pakistan will become sovereign, do you think any foreign 'power' would want that? NO!
Understand the bigger game, educate yourselves my people.Please urge YOUR brothers who have killed 50,000 Pakistanis to stop violating human rights!
@Muzakeraat: Funny enough Imran Khan's cousin was killed by Taliban who was in the armed forces, so please know your facts, and the family of IK have said they just want to see peace in the region and drone strikes and army operations have not brought peace at all despite they are meant to be stopping militancy. They want the end to drone attacks and if this stops militancy along with negotiations, then good, if not then kill all those murderers till every last one is gone. Algeria went through similar circumstances in 1990s and the country is now flourishing. ET post this please.
If Taliban Khan could talk his cousins into ceasing the practice of extremist views, and stop terrorist attacks on fellow Muslims across the country, then there would be no need for drone attacks. By the way Imran, when was the last time you came out against the Talibanization of Pakistan? How about, never?
How can Pakistan Government stop Drone attack. If we think US is Pakistan enemy Imran Khan should use his international outreach asking friendly Government around the world to influence US to stop drone attack instate of asking Pakistan Government to stop.
PTI and IK should go and talk to the relatives of Civilians and Armed Forces who have been killed by terrorists, TTP and their allies before making such statements. Al least for once they should urge them to stop the killing of innocent Pakistanis.
I fully endorse you views, may God bless you
@ahmer:
Never take a politician and his words seriously which he says in a press conference. What use of telling us, the miserable below the bottom line awam, to stop drone strikes, this is double jeopardy for awam. He holds an influential position nationally and internationally and should speak at right time at right forum. Leave press conferences to Sheikh Rasheed, at least there is something to laugh.
When is Imran going to urge (demand) TTP to stop their killing spree of innocent Pakistanis??
Mr. Imran Khan, in addition, please also urge your TTP brothers to stop mass murder of Pakistanis (40000 or more so far).
what is this guys desperation with drone strikes? something fishy and if I was the USA, they should check out this desperation. Fifty thousand civilian deaths mean nothing to this taliban khan, who would rather protect their so called animal strategic assets in the taliban. USA pls make sure you kill every last one of these animals and their protectors. This is a plea from the helpless citizens of Pakistan who wish to improve thier lives and enjoy thier lives.
If IK was running the show we all know he would be doing the exact same thing as Sharif - make demands of the USA (which will be ignored) and go to the UN. Even if IK was dumb enough to try and attack the drones the military would simply ignore him.
And TTP is not violating any human rights so we should allow them to open offices.
AI have issued many other damning reports about human rights violations of Balouchs, Ahmedis, Christians and Shia minorities in the past but IK never said any thing about that.