PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI ) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday said his party was considering blocking Nato supply routes in other provinces as well.
“PTI may block Nato supply routes in Punjab and Balochistan as supply is being carried out via Chaman border,” said Imran, talking to The Express Tribune.
Earlier, addressing a protest camp at Hayatabad Toll Plaza, Imran poignantly questioned why the federal government failed to implement the resolutions passed in both provincial and national assemblies against US drone strikes in Pakistan.
“National and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) assemblies had unanimously passed resolutions terming drone strikes a blatant violation of international law and Pakistan’s sovereignty,” he said, adding that the supply route would remain closed until the US stopped drone attacks.
Claiming that the US was creating hurdles in the peace process, the PTI chief said ‘the so-called ally’ did not want to bring peace to the region.
He clarified that the protest sit-ins to block the Nato supply routes did not mean waging a war against the US. It was only to give a message to the world that US was violating international law.
“They [Americans] fire missiles but Pakistani people and law enforcing agencies have to bear the consequences,” he said, adding that the K-P was on the verge of destruction, as six million tribesmen had to leave homes for safer places.
“We do not want to humiliate the federal government but we will have to step down from someone else’s war,” Imran Khan said. In clear terms, he told the protesters not to disrupt supplies under Afghan transit trade agreement.
Many people from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) also participated in the sit-in. They assured the PTI chairman of their all-out support. PTI leaders Jahangir Tareen, Naeemul Haque, Ishtiaq Urmar, Javed Naseem and Abdul Muneem were also present.
As Nato supply route from K-P remains blocked, the PTI chief has visited a sit-in camp after November 23 for the first time.
“It was the party’s decision to block the supply routes in the K-P, and the party will decide whether or not to block Nato supply routes in Balochistan as well,” said former senator and the PTI’s Senior Vice President Azam Swati.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (46)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1733421998-0/New-Project-(1)1733421998-0-270x192.webp "gwadar airport declared as int l airport")
1735544655-0/Waqas-(8)1735544655-0-270x192.webp "karachi traffic update routes reopened and closed due to mwm protests")
This is the Leader that has not sold out to the West ~ Bold & Courageous. As for those that are questioning what Imran Khan has done in terms of development, go ask the people living in KPK. Corruption down, patwari system down, encrouchment down, health/edu ON THE UP!
why was my comment rejected?
@csmann: Money is all you guys have ever thought of
Imran Khan tsunamani is here at last. Many people in Punjab and Balochistan will come out to support this protest. You have no shortage of volunteers from all provinces. Great work. Pakistan salutes you.
@observer Politics is also a kind of philanthropic work if done honestly and sincerely. It all depends on intentions which no human can judge. So if IK claims that he is working for Pakistan and in the process he mentions his earlier achievements to convince people about his commitment and honesty, what is wrong in that?
I get the feeling that the current cedntral Gvernment of Pakistan is deliberately letting Imran Khan to take the political leadership of the country. A NO confidence motion in the parliament and the senate may prove very embarrasing for Nawaz Sharif. As it stands one gets the impression that he is the only hope for the country to stay as One unit?
Rex Minor
@Hamid Azhar if I lost a loved one in drone attack, I wouldn't lose my sense of humanity and logic and kill 10 times more people, who are just as innocent as my departed ones, just for "revenge". I would go out and fight the people who are creating the reasons for drone attack and make sure they never step into my village, and many tribes are doing just that. Stop acting like tribal people are some alien race with no sense and humanity.
To PTI friends commenting here, not all tribal people are militants and in fact they have been made hostage by TTP and as per latest news the TTP has been open to usage by Afghanistan. What sort of insanity is it to hand over territory to the proxy of another govt? Where is your love of Pakistan then? The TTP is a termite that is eating FATA, growing in KPK and will spread everywhere else. KPK government is the first domino to fall. Wait and see.
To Sehar: What a dumbfounded comment! Have Sharifs reduced poverty? Do they have the courage to protest physically against drones other than issuing senseless statements that are a formality? Imagine if one of your loved ones dies from a drone collateral damage Just one! Who would you support then?
@Abdul Moiz Iqbal (Khi):
these drones have caused the people of tribal area to turn into terrorists, Can someone highlight any such bombing and killing activities before the drones started.
Between 2002 and 2004 Taliban had already killed 200 Tribal Elders in FATA to consolidate their control.
The first Drone strike was in 2004. Just 1 strike in the entire year.
For details please see. http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/17868/profileoftehrikitaliban_pakistan.html
@Rasikh:
There is no denying that philanthropy work does not necessarily mean eligibility to an electoral office. But its not an ineligibility either. If TATA or Edhi haven’t chosen to pursue it, that’s their choice.
Either I did not convey the meaning clearly enough, or you do not want to see it clearly.
I will assume that the shortcoming is on my part and try to explain again.
Our elders have been telling us 'Neki Kar Dariya Mein Daal' or 'Your Left Hand Must Not Know What Your Right Hand Giveth'. Have you pondered why do they say so?
It is because 'Philanthropy' ceases to be 'Philanthropy' if you seek recompense for such a deed. In fact it is down right deceitful. Feeding a hungry person is philanthropy, but feeding a bait at the end of a hook is called 'Fishing'.
Conversely, if some politician other than IK were to go to a poor slum and offer people money and then ask for their votes, would you consider it philanthropy?
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/225650.html
@Tabinda: you are complaining against a newly born party in KPK but what about the parties you supported earlier whom should be blamed for the destruction of KPK
"Philanthropy is GOOD, but it is not a Passport to electoral office."
@observer There is no denying that philanthropy work does not necessarily mean eligibility to an electoral office. But its not an ineligibility either. If TATA or Edhi haven't chosen to pursue it, that's their choice. But their choice does not limit anyone else's choice who chooses to do that.. One person choices cannot be made a compulsion for another.
Isn't it narrow mindedness to criticize a person, which i see in most of the comments given above, it is much better to criticize the actions or strategies when it comes to a political party. though as far as blocking the NATO supplies are concerned, i think it is correct as PTI is not a part of the Federal Government and they promised before the election, that they will take up this matter seriously with UN, USA and incase the drones do not stop, they will fire them down. Atleast they have got the courage to stand for what they promised, today they are not in the Federal Government but they are still doing what they can. Secondly these drones have caused the people of tribal area to turn into terrorists, Can someone highlight any such bombing and killing activities before the drones started.because they have no other option than to target all those who are silent and do nott stand against drones. Yes this is not correct, but what is causing this to happen must be stopped in order to to stop this. Furthermore some of us may think that this will not stop drones. Yes may be without being ashamed of the facts that we are a nuclear power and have one of the best armies in the World, we are one of the few countries in the World who could survive on their own even if isolated based on natural resources we have, we can only condemn drones, and when we were attacked on Salala, NATO supplies were kept blocked for 7 months,was it justified to block NATO supplies when we were attacked and our soldiers were killed? the justtice was to have have the officials who carried out direct attacks on Salala arrested and executed for what they had done to us as per International law, yet we reacted lowly by blocking NATO supplies only? At that time it was justified now it is not? Because civilians are being killed not army, will we only retaliate when our army is attacked? Aren't innocent lives important? Those who have lost their minds and hearts and are so called Enlightened thinkers, ask yourself a question would you react in the same way if an attack was carried out in any of your urban city and coincidently any of your relative accompanied by some terrorists is killed? think about it and think neutrally.
Imran is not sincere with Pakistan and KPK. He wants to ruin KPK.
We are with you Imran Khan...Please go ahead and block all routs to NATO supply.....We don't need dollars, we want peace..
No more dollars at the cost of Pushtun blood.... simple is that. IK we are with you.
@observer: He spoke about the cancer hospital in his 1992 victory speech - and that hospital was not for him but for all Pakistanis.
@Rasikh: great boss... Thumbs up for reply
@Rasikh:
You are obviously talking about the cancer hospital that he built for his personal amusement right?
No, that came after the 1992 speech.
And now coming to this 'Passport' to Prime Ministership, allow me to inform you,
(A) The Tata family set up the Tata Memorial Centre in 1941 and the Hospital started Oncology treatment and research in 1954. No Tata family member has claimed the office of the Prime Minister for this deed.
(B) In Pakistan itself Mr Edhi has done as much for the helpless and the poor. And he has not even claimed Chief Ministership.
Philanthropy is GOOD, but it is not a Passport to electoral office.
Nothing more than a cheap popularity stunt
"I request to all Pakistanis to check his speech in 1992 World Cup where a single word has not been talked about Pakistan and not his team, he only talk about himself and his cancer hospital"
@ Zack. You are obviously talking about the cancer hospital that he built for his personal amusement right?
Thousands likes for this man. Please pray for his life because these culprits are always planning against him. If Allah forbid something bad happened to him. Pakistan will soon drown.
@Sehar: Yes...many. But you wouldn't know if your only source of news is this website. I'm not going to tell you though. If you're old enough to use the internet, you're old enough to use google!
Captain khan Politics! Hat off for you
@csmann: @mac: you guys don't care about the people who lives in tribal areas. what have you done for them since the independence nothing and you turned them into so called talibans. so do you have any better plan to negotiate or will keep on supporting the drones?
The only person who is fighting for Pakistan, like always !
ALLAH bless pakistan. ALLAh bless nawaz sharif.
Thanks to Almighty Allah that Imran is not PM of Pakistan. His immaturity will ruin KPK.
Idiot thinks the world cares.
Imran is doing all non-sense. He knows nothing about how to run a country. He should grow up now. No benefit of these sit-ins.
Paid comments!!
1 Anti Imran Khan - other political party gents 2 Indian paid agents
This is the reason people are also now commenting less on your site!
I humbly request to all Pakistanis to check his speech in 1992 World Cup where a single word has not been talked about Pakistan and not his team, he only talk about himself and his cancer hospital, now he become himself a cancer to Pakistan. He is not sincere at all. His nature is like that.
I request to all Pakistanis to check his speech in 1992 World Cup where a single word has not been talked about Pakistan and not his team, he only talk about himself and his cancer hospital, now he become himself a cancer to Pakistan. He is not sincere at all. His nature is like that.
Some of the enlightened and rich Pakistani's believe in US in place of Allah. They would like to be slaves and pray to USA and Europeans and ask for food, health, wealth, clothes, etc. What a shameful bunch of people who do no deserve to live in an independent country.
@csmann: Yeah trust after receiving the employment benefits in form of flesh and blood stained land and hands certainly unemployment would be far better. We are so much worried about the food to fill the stomach and we do not want to really care if that food is made out of the flesh of the neighbor we grew up with. Think before you comment! just for the sake of commenting wont help you much.
work (money) or blood, simply some people can not make out the difference? Innocent life is more important than anything.. dont let them be killed like that..
The only Pakistani leader with guts!
Mr.Khan , instead of these dramas , what have you done for KPK any mega project any development or poverty reduction measures ?
Playing with the country, this so-called leader. Million reasons to thank God that PTI did not come into power.
Seems like US won't need the routes through Pakistan anymore. Mr.Khan can arrange the unemployment benefits for the people he helped put out of work.
He's probably the only person who cares and has ever cared deeply about Pakistan and is a politicians. Usually, all previous PMs have hated Pakistan including NS, AZ and BB.