“Drone strikes have further complicated the dialogue process with TTP,” said Sherpao. PHOTO: INP/FILE
Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Saturday strongly condemned continued drone strikes in the country, demanding an immediate end to the remote-controlled attacks.
“Drone strikes have further complicated the dialogue process with TTP,” said Sherpao while addressing a news conference at the party’s secretariat in Hayatabad. Sherpao’s statement came a day after a drone strike killed Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and five other militants.
He said the national leadership and political parties are sincere in bringing peace to the country, “but if the drone strikes continue, the future of peace dialogue would be not secure.”
Sherpao maintained dialogue is the only way by which peace could be restored in the country, adding the attacks are also a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Provincial Vice President Mushtaq Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune they would support the decision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to stop Nato supplies, adding the US has violated Pakistan’s territorial integrity many times.
In November 2011, Nato’s helicopters killed at least 24 security personnel and injured 12 others in an airstrike at a Pakistani check post in Salala, reminded Khan. “In May 2011, the Abbottabad operation and presence of Black Water in the country was evidence that US was violating our territory,” he added.
JI’s stance regarding Nato supply is very clear,” he said, demanding the central government to halt supplies immediately.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2013.
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Afatab Sherpao was Interior Minister in Musharraf government when a suicide bomber blew himself in his public meeting at Station Koorona in charsadda on 27th April, 2007 killing 35 people and injuring more than sixty. This was the first attack on him in which the scribe narrowly escaped at a hands throw distance whereas a PID Photographer and APP Chief reporter, who were standing close to me, were severely injured.
The opening sentences of the statement of this gentleman KP politician reflect his total disregard for the lives of ordinary people of this Province which are now entirely at the mercy of TTP terrorists.