The durable spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan has repeated his earlier objections that “Imran Khan is a liberal, secular person and so is his party; we deny all baseless news stating that we have offered to provide him security for his so-called peace rally. His so-called peace march is not in sympathy with drone-hit Muslims; instead, it is a try by him to increase his political height”. He went on to propound a rather complex definition of Pakistani political parties, in power and out of it, and their unsuitability as rulers of an Islamic state.
Then another more scary statement emanated from Jaishul Khilafa — an outfit linked to al Qaeda — terming Imran Khan “an agent of Israel, the United States and Britain, who wants to strengthen the hold of Jewish and Christian forces in the tribal area of Pakistan”. In this warning, there is an evident threat to the life and limb of the participants in the march. Clearly, the TTP is speaking with a forked tongue signalling differences of approach towards Pakistan as a state.
Government officials think the Taliban are splintered. Normally, Imran Khan should have heeded this analysis. Two ISI men, Khalid Khwaja and Colonel Imam, were sent to Waziristan on the assumption that their ‘services’ to the Taliban and al Qaeda in the past would give them safe passage to the inner sanctum of the terrorists. (Some assurances had been received from the Taliban or a group of them.) Both were killed by a faction calling themselves (Punjabi) Tigers. Imran Khan should also be chary of taking his 100,000-strong march to Kotkai, the village of Hakimullah and the late Qari Hussain, because they are known as killers of Pakistani Shias. The Wazirs want him to go to Wana instead, which is the headquarters of South Waziristan and less dubious in credentials.
But Imran Khan says that he has received no direct messages from the Taliban and blames two quarters, the PPP government and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F. The Maulana is supposed to have offered his unworthy spin on the march by saying that Imran Khan had organised the march to boost the filming career of his ex-wife Jemima Khan.
The PTI chief says that if something happens to his supporters on the way to Kotkai, the government would be to blame. This means that the government should give him protection to avoid being blamed if something untoward happens. On the other hand, officials in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa say that the foreigners with the PTI — around 150 from the US and the UK, protesting the policy of drones in anti-terrorism strategy — will require clearance and a no-objection certificate from the interior ministry. Given the conditions in the tribal areas, no one in the country’s intelligence sector would easily issue such clearance to foreigners.
Ironically, people in the US and the UK, who object to ‘illegal’ drones, mostly belong to the ‘rascally NGOs’, abominated in Pakistan, and a few academics whose opinion no one minds printing in the American press. These voices are being heard but count for nothing in the overwhelming American and Western view of what kind of results the drones are achieving in Pakistan where the state has lost bits of its territory and is finding it hard to face off the terrorists. However, there is no doubt that documentary films made in Waziristan by these conscientious critics will do a lot of propaganda damage to the American policy of drones.
The march of 100,000 was haunted by contradictions from the start because of its overly fanciful dimensions. Getting such a large crowd from Islamabad to DI Khan and from there to Kotkai is a feat of logistics whose security no one can guarantee.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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It has been pointed out that documentaries made will damage pro drone approach.Plus I dont understand if people joining march were not afraid why mourners on social media.Can AZ/NS go undertake such march save for on GT road.I could never know some one could intellectually be dishonest as are few columnist whose readership is restricted to few thousands tun readers.One female anchor prompted on Moulvi who was seen on all TV channel that now IK can never dare to come to Quetta.None discussed the intent,purpose and impact of this march in tribal areas.
Those who agree & would like to sign:
@ET, I know you will be in trouble with your "Bosses" if you publish this.
@Rauf PTI: Good riddance. And good luck with the Zardari/Sharif combo.
@Majid
Dear Sir i fail to understand why so harsh on IK. He is the brave one amongst us who actually tried doing something against the killing going on in Waziristan.
@Rauf
With all due repect. Thanks i think its time/better you run back to your muslim league or PPP.
I personaly was a little skeptical about IK but this move of his has totally won my vote. LONG LIVE IK. LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
@Rauf PTI
Good enjoy zardari :)
Those who proudly film beheading of army soldiers and Shia Muslims are providing security to Imran Khan. Is there no shame left?
Imran is a foolish person endangering lives of thousands of people just for his political gains. Sorry, i'm not his supporter anymore!
So according to the ET editorial board, Pakistanis should just sit on their hands and do nothing while extremists from both sides are killing innocents.
I dont agree, for the first time a Pakistani political party is standing up to the mighty CIA drones and the US war on terror. NEver before has there been more international spotlight on this dirty war then today due to the PTI peace march.
Should we as a nation not unite behind this move, should we not a send a signal of unity to the world at this time. The timing of this march is also critical. Smack in the middle of the US Presedential debate. Imagine if we can influence the US presedential debate then we can make both parties seek a more plausible relationship with Pakistan.
Only and only Khan can do.
So this is his way of bowling two wickets with one ball.!! This is nothing but replica of Qazi hussain politics of long march,dharnas,jalo gherao,and in the end calling a small mob of tamashbeens into millions.What a childish behaviour.I feel pity for IK.
Shame on Imran Khan for putting the lives of hundreds and thousands of people on stake just to complete the documentary of his ex-wife! This is a fact, and you will see that documentary soon.
Very biased reporting ET throughout this. It doesnt take much to understand the theme you've picked. Whatever happened to being neutral.
"Two ISI men, Khalid Khwaja and Colonel Imam, were sent to Waziristan on the assumption that their ‘services’ to the Taliban and al Qaeda in the past would give them safe passage to the inner sanctum of the terrorists."
Will the editor of this newspaper be kind enough to tell the world at large what kind of service the ISI was providing to terrorists organisations like Al Quaeda and Taliban. After all the rank of "colonel" is quite senior in the Army. We demand to know, the details of the services provided by Colonel Imam and ISI to Al Qaeda.