Chalking out plans: Prep for anti-drone protest finalised

PTI chief among others expected to address protesters.

PESHAWAR: Leaders of political parties held a meeting on Wednesday to chalk out plans for the November 23 protest against US drone strikes and Nato supply lines.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial spokesperson MPA Ishtiaq Urmar, PTI Peshawar region secretary general Fazal Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Shabbir Ahmad Khan along with Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP) leader Iqbal Biland Khan participated in the meeting and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.



Party leaders present said they oppose drone strikes as they violate the country’s sovereignty and international law. They suggested the federal government should take up the killing of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud with the US, and claimed the timing of the attack was a “clear move of US enmity towards Pakistan.”

The meeting presumed more than 100,000 people would participate in the protest, which is why they have selected Ring Road near the Peshawar Interchange for the demonstration. They also hinted PTI chief Imran Khan, JI leader Liaqat Baloch and AJIP’s Usman Tarakai among others will address the protesters.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2013.