Protesters march near the Parliament house in Islamabad on Thursday to protest against drones. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
"We will continue our protest against drone strikes and...we will not allow Nato supplies to pass through the (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) province," Imran Khan told the gathering.
More than 100 national and provincial legislators participated in the protest against US drone strikes on suspected militants in the country's tribal belt.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak led the protest and Sheikh Rasheed of Awami Muslim League was also present at the demonstration, reported Radio Pakistan.
Members of parliament from the Jamaat-e-Islami party also took part in the rally, shouting slogans against the United States and the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Khan accused Sharif's government of double standards on the issue and called for the blocking of supply routes through Pakistan for Nato troops in Afghanistan.
"Our rulers have double standards, they say one thing to the Americans and the complete opposite to the nation," he said. "These missile strikes violate international laws. We do not want a war with America but we are protesting against the cruel policies of America."
Activists in northwest Pakistan, some armed with clubs, have been forcibly searching trucks since late November to try to halt Nato supplies, following Khan's earlier calls to block routes. In response, the US military has suspended shipments of equipment out of Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Torkham is a key transit point used by the Americans and NATO to withdraw military hardware from Afghanistan, as part of a troop pullout set to end next year.
US officials said trucks have been told to wait for now in holding areas in Afghanistan, with Washington expecting the route to resume operating soon. Islamabad signed a deal with the US in July last year allowing Nato convoys to transit Pakistan until the end of 2015. But a spokesperson for Pakistan's interior ministry said they were unable to intervene in the issue.
Briefing diplomats
Later in the evening, Imran briefed some diplomats of European countries over his party's move to block Nato supplies as a means to protest against the continued drone strikes.
A long, but fruitful day.V put r position to NA Speaker,Opp ldr & govt;later 2 NATO envoys;PTI raised NADRA Chief's issue in NA;now home!
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) December 5, 2013
IK at NATO ambassadors dinner tonight. pic.twitter.com/DF6xed2hUR
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) December 5, 2013
COMMENTS (33)
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@numbersnumbers: I am surprised at your naivete. Have the drone strikes stopped/slowed terrorist activities, since they were initiated 9 years ago? They have successfully, however, multiplied the number of terrorsist groups. Real productive, right? As far as terrorist killings go, there are other, better, ways of combating terrorism; if you think there aren't, then my friend, you suffer from a mental disorder called 'tunnel vision'.
Read what is happening in PTI with the approval of IK, the most pious and principled politician. Those who want real change should stop supporting PTI immediately so that this bane does not become more injurious. Please read the following:
http://e.jang.com.pk/12-07-2013/karachi/pic.asp?picname=06_07.gif
@Vakil: Some one has to speak up for the innocent souls who are being denied their childhood. Must you criticise the One from the few who opposes drone killing simply because you have not the civil courage to raise your voice against the predator.
Rex Minor
*succinctly
Don't want people to think IK supporters can't even spell :)
@Rex Minor: Very succintly put. Hear hear.
why no protest for polio.....
It is amazing for a political novice from the world of sport to climb up to the heights of morality and ethics in relative shorter period and today stands taller than the President of the world super power. Yes it is Imran Khan who is now the only uncontested leader, the Ata Turk who is upfront to rid the Nation.from the dark forces of Evil and to restore the dignity it once had.
Rex Minor
@Abacond: Wow, and yet not a peep from PTI about innocent people (in the tens of thousands) dying in TTP TERRORIST ATTACKS!!!
@Amjad:
These dollars are development funds from USAID and this contract was signed in the last days of the ANP government, not by PTI.
USA is WILLINGLY giving this aid and PTI never really asked for it, unlike previous governments who begged.Even if these funds are flowing in, they aren't filling the pockets of members of the parliament, unlike the ANP era, they are being used on education, building of parks, infrastructure development etc. And all these developments are tangible, not theoratical.
PTI is clear on it's stance towards the US: they don't hate them, in-fact they quite laude those efforts of the American government which are positive eg. development through USAID etc. There is ONLY ONE policy of US that they are against: innocent people dying in drone attacks. Only one. Period.
Im the dim, trying hard to confront his masters. The mouse that roared.
By protesting and blocking the exit of American equipment going out from Afghanistan, it looks quite clear indeed that Mr. IK is ensuring that the American forces (and equipment etc etc) STAYS PUT in Afghanistan!! Logically speaking, it is clear that IK wants America and its allies to stay in Afghanistan, and resultantly in Pakistan as well.... droning away as ever. What better issue can there be for him to "stay relevant" in Pakistani politics? I think so that he is actually being PAID by the Americans to do what he is doing and saying.... to ensure that there is general "chaos" in Pakistan. If anything, Mr. IK himself is a prime example of a "conspirator" paid by the CIA, RAW and the Mossad... you can fool the uneducated rabble Mr. IK sir, but not chaps like me, remember...
@Proud Pakistani - Funny this coming from you assuming you keep supporting the same loser, who gets in with rigged elections. What did Nawaz say 'we have done our homework and have a fab team' - the numptie comes in for the 3rd time and has no clue.
@Ch. Allah Daad: What a stupid thought !!! Fact is fact if scare of tiny things then u can not rule the country !
KPK government has failed badly. Imran needs some issue to revive his popularity. He is doing dirty politics.
Imran's policies will ruin KPK. It was my mistake to vote for PTI.
cheap popularity stunt of Imran Khan. Shame for him.
@Pakistani: Dear pakistani slap will be when SOMETHING will be achieved out of this grand show otherwise hollow drums can beat louder.
@Ian: FACT: PTI is a nothing but a bunch of fools and losers.
@Ch. Allah Daad your tut tut PML-Nawaz party - or rather government is doing nothing as usual.
@scotchpak: Nawaz Sharif never wanted to explode the bomb. It was thanks to Dr Qadir Khan, Foreign Minister Gohar Aub, Sheikh Rasheed, People of Pakistan and Army
Like other political mullahs Imran Khan wants to get dollars from America and also curse America at the same time.
@Hopeful:
yes, ironically against an anti-state militant group that has also sanctions the killing of our citizens.
Mr. Khan is just envious that he isn’t getting a cut of the commission the US gives to our generals for every drone strike.
PTI has about 30 members in the parliament. They can make lot of noise there but they won't because it would make it official and part of the recorded history. If God forbiden Imran becomes PM in future, those documented history would become a big problem for us in world relations.
The way media reporting PTI campaign against drones is like IK is the one who is bombing our land not US.. shame for the media on sale
WTH is the matter with everyone? Why are you so obsessed with this? You need to focus on running the country. No one is doing their jobs in government which is why things are so bad. There is a myriad of problems that can be fixed quickly yet we focus on ones that arent fixable for the foreseeable future.
When is this drama going to finish? You continue taking funds from america but yet protest against nato? Why are PTI trying to fool the public.
Say to america we do not need your funds in KPK? Why are PTI accepting funds from nato?
Glad to see PTI acting after recemendation made by MQM QeT Altaf Hussain bhai to campaing / protest against institutions rather than blocking routes
Why not protest against blasts happening every day in some part of the country? Why not protest against animals known as ttp?
Slap on the face of those calling protests a "2day show" Slap on the face of those calling IK "dirty politician"
Good job, at least one party is showing resolve against the government sanctioned killing of our citizens.