Imran Khan backs TTP demand for end to drones strikes

Says US should stop Predator attacks targetting civilians.

ISLAMABAD:

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 13^th, 2013.