LAHORE: Reacting to yet another US drone strike in Pakistan, that eventually killed Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan Friday demanded the government to block Nato supplies going through the country.

Five militants, including Abdullah Bahar Mehsud and Tariq Mehsud, both key militant commanders and close aides of the TTP chief, were also killed with two others injured in the drone strike.

Speaking to media representatives, he blamed the US for sabotaging efforts to establish peace in Pakistan by repetitive drone strikes in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. “Whenever initiative of peace talks are taken in the country, US drone strikes sabotage them,” he said.

The cricket legend-turned-politician, who’s party rules the restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that they will not only table a resolution for blocking Nato supplies in the provincial assembly on Monday but in the National Assembly also.

Khan, on Thursday, had said his party had the capability to stop the Nato supplies and warned that his words must not be taken lightly. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of two routes Nato supplies move in and out of Afghanistan.

Senior PTI leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, present on the occasion, said anti-state elements were conspiring to sabotage peace process. He said Taliban themselves say that their leaders were targeted for initiating peace talks.

Chief Minister KP Pervez Khattak said they were being criticised for supporting peace.

Speaker KP Assembly Asad Qaiser said the federal government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took too long to initiate peace talks. He, however, added that it was still not too late. He vowed to support Islamabad for the dialogue with Taliban.

Opinion

Editorial

Climate choices
Updated 15 Jun, 2026

Climate choices

The country is confronting increasingly volatile weather patterns with consequences for agriculture, infrastructure, public health and economic planning.
Brief opening
15 Jun, 2026

Brief opening

WE have been here before. Throughout the weekend, there was great anticipation that a tentative framework for peace...
Environmental disaster
15 Jun, 2026

Environmental disaster

IT was a heartbreaking sight. A recent news report in these pages carried a picture of a sea turtle lying half ...
Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...