ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan expressed content over his party’s peace rally which tried to march into Waziristan to protest against US drone strikes.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Khan said that turning back from the Waziristan border was not a failure as he himself did not want the participants to be in the area at night.
“Fear was instilled among the participants. First it was said that there will be six suicide blasts, then the number was raised to nine. There were even rumours that the drinking water in Waziristan has been poisoned,” Khan laughed and said that if any unfortunate incident had happened during the rally, then it would have given a worse impression of Pakistan tribal areas.
Thanking all rally participants, his party workers, journalists and the tribal people, Khan said that this was the first time anyone had gone to the tribal areas to ask about the people. “All the parties which criticised me, I want to ask their leaders to at least go to DI Khan and see in what conditions the people are living there. Ask how they are alive.”
Khan also narrated the story of a drone attack victim whose son was killed in a strike and his family was injured. A friend of the boy who was killed, who was studying electrical engineering at Khan’s Namal University, went to Ghaznavi and carried out a suicide blast against the US, Khan added telling how drones end up making more terrorists.
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Nawaz & zardari have made it a family business by keeping power in they families. Soon it will be run with zardari son & so on. Giving up this powerful chair that they seat on & control Pakistan for self interest only is very hard, which we all can see, but not the ordinary Pakistani.
So keep on voting the same dogs in, & don't complain wen u get treat like one.
Long live I Khan (new leader) inshallah
Hats off to Imran Khan for displaying courage & marching towards Waziristan and making the world realized that most of the innocent people are being targeted by drone attacks.This is like killing humanity.Less than 2% target is being achieved by these attacks.NATO / USA must stop it forthwith.
@Muhammad: If I didn't visit this site I would have never known it happened and I'm in this "West" you speak of and this is most certainly not the only news I look at. Keep lying for Imran's lack of effectiveness so you don't have to face how silly PTI supporter's claims of his ability and character have been along with the joke of the century of calling him a leader. He's not a leader. He likes attention. Two different things that Pakistanis appear to get confused.
@Muhammad: um. No they haven't.
not Ghaznavi but Ghazni
Give the man a break...at least he tried. It was a peace march which remained very peaceful not quite common for protests in Pakistan and their reason for returning before nightfall seems logical not for security reasons but more for logistical reasons as I am Kotkai village doesn't have accommodation facilities for thousands of IK supporters who attended the rally. Anyway the at least he had the courage to go there!!! Ask Nawaz Sharif, Zardari or even Mr. Maulana to do that
so how many lakhs were there?
Happy happy joy joy!
Come on guys, at least he made efforts, took people there and rose awareness.
People who think that he is doing this to get in power, then the answer is YES. This doesn't necessarily means it is a bad thing, at least it is a positive and clean politics, unlike, other politicians who threatens, bribe and promises other people a seat so they can make money.
I have heard that Overseas Pakistanis cannot vote but if I would get chance I would defo vote for him and that would be the first time ever in my life I would for someone.
Handog!
Its not important if imran reached wazirstan. Whats important is that this march was critical in raising awareness amongst the western public. I live in uk and the media here covered this story extensively and already the british govt is coming under huge pressure to withdraw its suppport from USA's illegal war in pakistan.
To all the hater : Im not a big fan of Imran khan but atleast he tried? What do the other leaders do fly over in their helicopters take a picture with couple of people as proof and return? And why shouldnt he be worried about the safety of his fellow workers? I give him credit for trying!
HAters Gonna hate...but World has seen what we wanted to show..! LOng Live Imran Khan..!
I have to wonder at the pathetic/anemic coverage of this peace march -- didn't any journalist have the guts to attend the march?
I love you Imran you are the future of Pakistan. Pls keep it up inshallah you can take us out from the grip of traitors. One who love Pakistan is with You. May Allah give you all the success.
i think imran khan is a great leader in making
@Nadeem Zafar: He should be happy because the world media has focused on it and here in the US, almost all the channels had some kind of commentary and the common people are informed that drones kill Innocent civilians too and some syndicated papers even has published analysis that adverse psychological effects are being observed on children, women and older people in South and North Waziristan, and the trigger happy soldiers sitting in Arizona watching their computer screens has no clue in most cases whether they are targeting civilians or insurgents. It was also debated the legality of drones attacks and the involvement of Pakistani government and Army.
It is absurd to ask what has been achieved by the march as some critics and media persons are frequently asking. If we start applying this logic then what was achieved by drafting the constitution, formulating the laws, establishing the parliament, launching the private TV channels, speaking at the UN by Pakistani Presidents in the past, marking the Kashmir solidarity days, conducting the elections etc., etc..........
as usual a confused man continuing his cheap political gimmicks. I still do not understand clearly what his goal was and did he achieve it (whatever it was he was trying to achieve). People are just getting tired of silly antics daily.
By not being able to goto even South Waziristan, Imran Khan proved how dangerous even South Waziristan is, where there are less drone attacks. So, North Waziristan must be more dangerous! This way, Imran Khan's march ended up justifying the US drone strikes in Waziristans.
Atleast we should learn to appreciate those who try a step towards something positive, if we cant do it ourselves.
@ Nadeem the attention of the international media to these drone strikes. Makes sense? Haters hate long live The King Imran Khan
@sa: At least he is doing something while others are always in the state of rest :-)
@Nadeem Zafar: if you are living in a hut in takamktoo then probably nothing. If you are in the west and follow international media then A LOT. Almost all major international channels covered the story on front page for most of two days.
All he achieved was Topi Drama to enlighten his fallen popularity.
Pakistan deserves the leaders it gets - Imran Khan is too good for the country.
@Sir King Kong Bunty: Being a mingle community fellow i think u will have a extra piece of meat called brains. Be positive! He is doing great job.
All drama. It was a PTI political stunt. IK was never sincere about drones. In his speech in Tank, instead of talking about drones, US-NATO policy and pentagon's war against terror, he actually spoke about Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Zardari, elections and tsunami. What a shame!!
He is the last hope of Pakistan
So..what have we achieved through this march?
Now that's a real Pak lover's attitude! I wish if he had initiated charity programs in Tribal Areas for development and progress too he would have won the whole lot in appreciation. We already know our politicians don't even leave their town or think about impoverished areas where vote count or funding is not much help for their victory in elections.
So Imran Khan has just admitted that he "he himself did not want the participants to be in the area at night" because of it's danger, but was still willing to risk the lives of his followers, and the reputation of his country, in order to benefit himself politically?
Well I am sure he is...it was a flop anyway
We are happy too that he and his production staff returned home safe and sound. No ugly incident happened and no change is noticed in ground realities. Respecting Tribal Traditions he left Women participants in D.I. Khan. This gesture must have won many Tribal hearts but he did not know that such traditions and status quo are two sides of same coin. keeping Women from education is a tribal tradition and respecting their tradition is a form of status quo. If anyone thinks that Imran would change anything infact lives in a fool's paradise.
I am glad someone is paying attention to issues of the people. Overall, this is a positive thing in Pakistan's political environment. Less talk shows, more work should be our requirement for the next govt.
What a failure.. Got frightened by TALIBAN like all others
he start again his play after rest
Nice thought Imran Khan but your compassion for your party activists came a little late in the day. Knowing how precarious the situation in the tribal areas is, yet you decided to go ahead only to turn back when the plausibility of danger was emphasized.
This publicity stunt cost your foreign guests quite a sum or did you bear the out of pocket expenses? Nevertheless, our politicos must tour the tribal areas to see the situation as it presents itself especially, the JUI F chief, MQM, PML Q, PML N and PPP overlords and the mullah parties. No one goes there.
However, you must get credit for this unique idea of the march to FATA to condemn the drone attacks and show solidarity with our brethren suffering over there. It required courage and a dauntless mind to go on ahead. Let me quote to you an adage of Peter McWilliams: "To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all."
Frankly, do you think that this will have an effect on the USA whether you go there or not? Salams
The nation believes you my Leader. Long Love the KHAN