PTI Chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Saturday the Taliban’s demand to stop the drone strikes was a legitimate one and should be supported by all.
Addressing a press conference at PTI’s central secretariat after the party’s core committee meeting, Khan said the Taliban were ready to call a truce.
“The Taliban are ready for ceasefire for which the government has to take steps to stop the lethal drone attacks in the tribal areas,” he said.
He said everyone was demanding that the predator strikes be called off, adding that the US should be made to stop the drones, which were largely targeting civilians.
“It is the first time that any elected government is going to the tribal areas to negotiate with Taliban,” he added.
Rigging at May polls
The PTI chief said his party would take to the streets if the courts failed to provide justice on applications regarding poll rigging, which had been proved after the verification by the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra).
Imran said elements responsible for rigging at the polls should be held accountable.
“Justice has become very costly for a common man and if the courts fail to give justice then people will come to the streets,” Imran said, adding that the electoral system could not be changed without bringing electoral reforms.
The PTI chief also criticised the government for not giving relief to the people as there was no end to price hike and inflation. “Those elected by fraud are not interested in the people or in bringing an end to corruption,” he said.
He said the PTI had accepted the election results only because of the country’s situation.
Imran said those responsible for the tampering with the sanctity of the ballot should be exposed and punished within a fixed timeframe.
He said in both the National Assembly constituencies of NA 256 and NA 258, the Nadra verification had revealed systemic rigging and electoral fraud.
“We believe that this has happened in the majority of constituencies of Pakistan and should be verified at large scale,” he demanded.
He said the PTI requested the Supreme Court that similar evaluation might be ordered for four other constituencies “so as to expose the entire electoral fraud”.
“We request for suo motu notice by SC in regard to rigging evidence,” he said, adding that if their demands were not met, the PTI would be compelled to take to the streets.
He said the PTI felt there was an urgent need to change electoral process for future.
“This is a necessary first step towards ending corruption in the country because those who use corrupt means to come to power cannot eliminate corruption,” he added.
He said the credibility of the local bodies’ polls would be doubted unless digital identification of a person is ensured. “Our purpose for exposing and protesting rigging is simply to make elections transparent and fair for the future.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (13)
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Nicely said Stone. This headline is derived by ET. It is fake and all.messages are paid trolls. IK has never supportedttp.or else millions wouldnot hav voted for him. Nice try media and pmln. It wont work. Et how much cash will you take to be unbiased? I can give double of wht pmln gave. Give me ur demand!
The effectiveness of drones becomes apparent - first we have the death toll of high ranking Al Qaeda combined with correspondence from OBL indicating Al Qaeda should flee the Waziristan's because of drones - now we have the TTP saying they will enter a ceasefire if the drones stop. As always - the solutions to drones has remained obvious - get rid of the terrorist and the drones will stop.
@GhostRider: u neva voted for pti...so better stop lieing my friend!!
I see, so now this is a TTP demand... Not a legitimate Pakistani demand? Only extremists in this country want the end to its illegal bombing by another country, huh?
Well played, ET, well played indeed!
Rubbish - even the anti war journalist readily admit that the vast majority of drone casualties are terrorist. IK continues to be a terrorist/taliban apologist.
well sorry to say ET but PTI Always have demanded end to drone strikes in NW
See how quickly he comes out in support of TTP demands, how about demanding TTP to stop violence and killing of innocent Pakistanis. If they are so adamant, then their war is with US, care to take it to their door step? IK is a front for these people because they wanted a face lift. This is one of the reasons why some of his closest associates who formed the PTI have left him.
@Nadir: Bhai, the headline is not what Imran has actually said.
The drones will stop the same day that militants based in Pakistan stop attacking Isaf and Afghan forces across the border.
For those who say "drones kill children," I ask them: don't IEDs planted by militants hold-up in Fata kill more children in Afghanistan, why do these militants deliberately hide among the civilian population after carrying out attacks against Isaf and Afghan forces, why has the Pakistani army signed peace deals with these groups?
Stop confusing the common man, PTI!
why wouldn't he...afterall he is their biggest apologist...i regret that i voted for him
Errr, does he have no idea how this looks when he says stuff like "everyoen should support TTP's demands!"