Resumption of NATO supplies: DPC, PTI put their foot down over decision
Council says it will launch countrywide protest on April 20.
PESHAWAR:
The Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) have rejected the decision regarding the resumption of Nato supplies through Pakistani routes and announced that a countrywide protest campaign will be initiated in Peshawar on April 20.
Talking to media in Peshawar where arrangements have been made for a large rally in an open ground, DPC leader said they would reject parliament’s decision with “full force on all fronts”.
They said that since the Pentagon had made it clear that drone attacks would not be suspended, there was no justification for the resumption of Nato supplies through the country.
“If the supply was restored then we will resist it peacefully by staging protests near its routes, as we fear that either Nato or America could send its armed forces to Pakistan on the pretext of securing the supply route,” said Maulana Samiul Haq, adding that the decision regarding the resumption of the supply line was taken by parliament overnight on the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Imran Khan’s stance
Meanwhile, in Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan said the restoration of the supply line was “the biggest collusion” between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the US.
He was addressing the 2012 Punjab PTI Women Convention. Imran also showed grave concern over the loss of 40,000 Pakistani soldiers in the US ‘war on terror’ and reiterated that Pakistan must stop fighting a foreign war. “We always knew that the Nato supply line would be restored since these rulers have no spine to show against the US,” said Imran. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM our correspondent IN LAHORE)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2012.
The Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) have rejected the decision regarding the resumption of Nato supplies through Pakistani routes and announced that a countrywide protest campaign will be initiated in Peshawar on April 20.
Talking to media in Peshawar where arrangements have been made for a large rally in an open ground, DPC leader said they would reject parliament’s decision with “full force on all fronts”.
They said that since the Pentagon had made it clear that drone attacks would not be suspended, there was no justification for the resumption of Nato supplies through the country.
“If the supply was restored then we will resist it peacefully by staging protests near its routes, as we fear that either Nato or America could send its armed forces to Pakistan on the pretext of securing the supply route,” said Maulana Samiul Haq, adding that the decision regarding the resumption of the supply line was taken by parliament overnight on the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Imran Khan’s stance
Meanwhile, in Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan said the restoration of the supply line was “the biggest collusion” between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the US.
He was addressing the 2012 Punjab PTI Women Convention. Imran also showed grave concern over the loss of 40,000 Pakistani soldiers in the US ‘war on terror’ and reiterated that Pakistan must stop fighting a foreign war. “We always knew that the Nato supply line would be restored since these rulers have no spine to show against the US,” said Imran. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM our correspondent IN LAHORE)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 15th, 2012.