In solidarity: PTI leaders vow to materialise Imran’s call to shut Nato supplies

District general secretaries say they are prepared to mobilise party workers.

PESHAWAR: District general secretaries of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Wednesday pledged to act party chief Imran Khan’s call to shut Nato supplies.

General secretaries from seven districts including Hangu, Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Bannu, DI Khan and Mansehra were present at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club. Addressing the gathering, Mansehra’s general secretary Ishtiaq Khan said they had convened in Peshawar to show they were willing to back any call of the party chief. He said the post of general secretary was a crucial one at the grassroots level as they act as a liaison between the party’s central leadership and the general public.

Ishtiaq said drone strikes are a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and they will not allow anyone to continue doing so. He added they were ready to go to any length to ensure the success of PTI’s decision, which would be announced after the expiry of the November 20 ‘deadline’ set by the provincial government for the centre to halt Nato supplies. He said Pakistan’s leadership has tolerated continued violation of the country’s sovereignty over the years, however, PTI will not follow their footsteps.

PTI General Secretary Swat Mohammad Zeb Khan said they will mobilise party workers across the province and also establish contact with other parties. He said the public wants to put an end to drone strikes, but some people were falling prey to political expediencies. He added PTI’s district presidents will soon meet to discuss a course of action for after November 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,2013.