Imran demands immediate blockade of Nato supplies

Published November 1, 2013
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. – File Photo
Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. – File Photo

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.

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