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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on Sunday said the military should temporarily halt bombardments in areas of North Waziristan where the civilian population has not evacuated.
“The operation should not be conducted in villagers where women and children are present as they are currently stranded,” Imran said in a press conference in the capital.
He also said that according to information available with the party, militancy will spread to areas bordering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of the operation and that the police and security should be beefed up.
He urged the federal government to meet with the provincial government and chalk out a plan to facilitate the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as growing security concerns.
“The prime minister should stop his foreign trips and plan for rehabilitation. This planning should have happened before but the KP government was not informed of the operation.”
He also appealed to the Sindh and Punjab provincial governments to facilitate the IDPs. “I appeal to Sindh and Punjab not to stop people who are collateral damage of the operation from entering their provinces.”
“These are Pakistanis. It is not their fault. They are angry. They are being shunned.”
Federal govt should give KP Rs 6bn: Imran
Imran also called on the federal government to immediately release Rs6 billion to the Khyber Pakhtukhwa government, to help the facilitation of IDPs.
He said that Bannu already has a population of 1 million, with 500,000 refugees from the operation pouring in.
“The hospitals cannot take the pressure of so many people. There will also be a further increase in prices as Ramadan is approaching,” he said. “I appeal to the government for the immediate release of Rs6 billion from the Coalition Support Fund for KP.”
No alliance between PTI and PAT
PTI chief Imran Khan said that though his party would support the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and stood with them but that did not mean there was a the possibility of the formation of an alliance between the two parties.
Talking about Lahore's Model Town incident, Khan said that Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif should have tendered his resignation and also demanded that former provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah be sent to jail.
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Comments (94) Closed
Jun 22, 2014 06:02pm
What is going on? This guy says very loud and clear what appears to be against national interest. Is he unaware of the need for national unity or is there something that the government, military, and rest of the nation does not understand?
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Jun 22, 2014 06:02pm
I have lost faith in IK.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:03pm
Khan Sb ko Army General bharti ker lo. Ab fauj ko larney ka tariqa or operational tactical advice Khan sb dein gey...
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Jun 22, 2014 06:13pm
Please do not spoil the operation in the middle of very good move. Let the generals decide. They are Pakistanis also. You have failed as a politician
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Jun 22, 2014 06:13pm
Nawaz Shareef is a selfish leader who is busy securing raiwind palace and making trips abroad.
Does he have no sense that this operatiion has displaced millions of innocent people.
Why couldnt he plan better?
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Jun 22, 2014 06:26pm
why we keep on forgetting, Plans are nothing. Planning is every thing. spontaneous planning always leads to disaster. only gods knows what has happened to our intelligence...
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Jun 22, 2014 06:26pm
Being a Pakistani it is the responsibility of every individual to come in-front and play his/her role in terms of financial and rehabilitation of IDP'S as they are our Muslim brother and Sisters.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:29pm
Military should halt operation, Federal Govt should give 6 Billion Rupees to KPK and rest of the provinces should accomodate IDPs........... Khan sb any more order??? Halt the operation and give talibaan an opportunity to flee the area is that what you want???????. Please take responsibility for IDPs and stop making Punjab, Sind and Federal Govt responsible.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:30pm
All parties should come together to help and not leave kpk to deal with it all.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:30pm
Mr. Imran Khan is in the habit of making delusional or unrealistic meaningless statements. How can you suspend war for convenience? My hear goes out to the civilians but they had ample warnings and the ones who wanted to get out are already out. More over the Army is NOT targeting civilians. Army will do it's best to avoid civilian casualties.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:33pm
So Mr Khan while considering the collateral damages needs Rs 6bn for KP. By saying that he did not mean there was a possibility of the formation of an alliance between the two parties he kept his identity separate to be emerged as a sole personality to challenge the Government for their deeds seeking a change in Government.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:33pm
Mr. Khan, since you know it's critial time for KPK, you shouldnt be spending all your time in Bani Gala, doing protests, visting victims of Model town incidence. You should rather stay in KPK, organize and plan humanitarian efforts for IDPs, organise fund raisers for IDPs like you did for your party or Shaukat khanam. You seem to have your priorities all messed up.
Army has its eye on humanitarian aspects of this operation and they know when to apply brakes or accelerate. Please stop confusing people.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:43pm
He is not Master of U turn , he is on aroundabout , sirf gol gol ghoomay ja rahe rahe hain and stuck at the same place with others , Immi move on aur bhi gham hain KP main Taliban ke ilawa yahan behtari le ao.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:45pm
This guy has his own drama going on. God help him.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:54pm
No problem u can always U TURN to reconsider alliance with Qadri may be by tomorrow.
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Jun 22, 2014 06:59pm
I Dont thing so is a good idea to stop the operation .either temporarily.Army should find another way to pull out the civilian in N. Waziristan .it should continue and soon should be complete inshallah. Imran is providing a chance to escape those terrorist.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:02pm
NY Times, BBC have all reported the situation of IDPs as really troubling with no food, shelter, travelling arrangements available. People are walking on foot for miles and there have been deaths due to heat strokes as even drinking water is not available. We should have been better prepared for this. I know everyone blames PTI for being Anti War but their concern about not being informed as was valid few days ago as it is now . They are the ones who have to handle all IDPs when Punjab and Sindh are not willing to accommodate them. We all support Pakistan Army and May Allah Bless them with success but these are Pakistani civilians as well ... Let's move on from what happened now and speed up the efforts to get them settled somewhere in this blistering heat of Summer and with Ramadan coming. PMLN should put more focus on this issue than the TUQ issue. They are making a mountain of a mole hill in case of Qadri
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Jun 22, 2014 07:04pm
this guy must be out of his mind.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:17pm
I voted for him but cannot be more disappointed by PTI performance and results. They lost a golden opportunity to bring "change" in KPK and instead started the same old loser politics like others
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Jun 22, 2014 07:18pm
Temporary halt to war because of civilians sounds great .. but when your enemy uses civilians as shields the "temporary" becomes "permanent".
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Jun 22, 2014 07:18pm
PTI is correct Govt should stop operation against TTP but start against PTI first (TTP's political wing). It these people are innocent why have been providing shelter to TTP terrorists for 10 years?
And please we do not want any more in Sindh especially Karachi!!!
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Jun 22, 2014 07:23pm
This man has totally lost it!
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Jun 22, 2014 07:23pm
Not agree with Imran, u can not halt the bombing during action
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Jun 22, 2014 07:23pm
Khan sb leave the operation to military and do your part by helping IDPs in KPK.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:25pm
I was wondering about the lack of "i-live-in-a-parallel-universe" statement by IK during the last few days!
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Jun 22, 2014 07:30pm
Quite right...lives of stranded women and children should be safeguarded. I can
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Jun 22, 2014 07:30pm
He's right if all IDPs just enter KP it will not be good for the province and it's budget.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:32pm
Khan Sb, being in opposition does not mean that you should oppose every step of the Govt irrespective of its importance to the national security
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Jun 22, 2014 07:39pm
He never listens to anybody. Now that we have cornered Ttp, he wants a ceasefire. Khan sb, you have lost me
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Jun 22, 2014 07:44pm
He is suggesting suspending operation where civilians are still trapped. Once they have evacuated, it will be easier to operate. This will cause minimum loss of innocent life.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:48pm
And these mummy-daddy hating commentors even know what IDPs are and how misrerable their condition is?
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Jun 22, 2014 07:52pm
O Khan sahib ..... Think twice before you speak and better not to speak at all.
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Jun 22, 2014 07:57pm
Stop wasting money in dharna politics better use for idps
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Jun 22, 2014 08:03pm
Khan Sb, being in opposition does not mean that you should oppose every step of the Govt irrespective of its importance to the national security
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Jun 22, 2014 08:04pm
he is the leader who can feel the pain of his people, he said temporarily. just give some time to the innocent people that they could leave the area safely. and he has very rightly demanded.
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Jun 22, 2014 08:19pm
Imran Khan has completely lost his marbles. We need to support the army and let them finish the job. None of this halt in the middle. As a nation we need to stand united.
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Jun 22, 2014 08:26pm
@msa I did'nt like him from the day 1
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Jun 22, 2014 08:28pm
Very disappointed... by such typical politics
Don't listen to him... support uninterrupted operation by our army
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Jun 22, 2014 08:33pm
IK asked to halt operation till the remaining civilians can leave NWA which is what Army is already doing by softening the curfew
The headline of DAWN is somewhat different with what IK said
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Jun 22, 2014 08:38pm
just ask IK that has he supported any single decision taken by federal government...??
this is ridiculous..this is not how the opposition should be..
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Jun 22, 2014 08:47pm
" the military should temporarily halt bombardments in areas of North Waziristan where the civilian population has not evacuated.."
what,s wrong in this statement?
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Jun 22, 2014 08:48pm
@event horizon the IDP's need to be taken care of . The fall out of the operation and risk to the ordinary public was not planned before hand. More respect for PTI to raise voice for the sufferers of this operation .
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Jun 22, 2014 08:50pm
Instead of sitting in Islamabad and showing concern Imran and his team should visit Bannu and help refugees
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Jun 22, 2014 08:54pm
I partly agree with IK. No one is trying to understand problems of IDPs. They are poor people of Pakistan, having no mean to live. They are not rich people having a large bank balance and with Ramzan approaching, things will get worsen for them. If Pak Govt fails to facilitate them properly, it will hatch more extremist only. So far, NO Plan has been shown up by Govt. And salute to Pak Army for denoting 1 day income for IDPs. Also shame on Sindh govt who declared that they will not entertain these people...Kuch khuda ka khoof karoo...marna app logon nay be hai...I earnestly request Pak govt to put serious efforts and take speedy actions to settle these IDPS and dont let them feel as step-citizens of Pakistan.
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Jun 22, 2014 08:56pm
Let us focus on the main issue mentioned here i.e. "Safety of INNOCENT men, women and children and support of IDPs" who have nothing to do with this battle. They are PAKISTANIS too! Like us all. (Liking or disliking IK or the S brothers is a
not an issue under discussion here).
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Jun 22, 2014 09:03pm
@SAC He has said that (i) advanced planning should have been done to deal with the humanitarian crisis which would inevitable be unleashed due to the operation (2) there are people stranded in some of the areas under operation who may have difficulty in evacuating and (3) that the Provincial government needs funds to provide relief to IDPs. Where did he say anything about how the army should "fight??
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Jun 22, 2014 09:04pm
@event horizon How is saying that IDPs crisis should have been prepared for in advance and that there are people stranded in the areas of operation against national interest?
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Jun 22, 2014 09:07pm
I wish IK had asked those civilians to kick those terrorists out before army takes any action-- telling how smart IK is
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Jun 22, 2014 09:12pm
the only sane voice in this country, who genuinely care about the suffering of these poor people.
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Jun 22, 2014 09:21pm
At least PTI supports the operation now.
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Jun 22, 2014 09:28pm
This is no time to give a respite to the terrorists. Enough time has been given to the civilians to escape N Wazirista. Those that are still staying there are doing it on purpose and have deliberately chosen that course. They alone are responsible for their decision and any consequences.
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Jun 22, 2014 09:31pm
What you people don't understand are the lessons from 1971 ... you cannot alienate the general population and army will not fix issues of civilian misgovernance. Our nation deserves leaders like Nawaz and Zardari.
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Jun 22, 2014 09:42pm
Imran Khan seems to be the only person telling everyone to be ready and prepare for after the waziristan operation effects. But some people have to little of an IQ to understand this. As usual the Federal Gov't thinks, it is not its problem.
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Jun 22, 2014 09:43pm
@msa lost faith becuz he wants to help idps. I lost hope for pakistan if so
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Jun 22, 2014 09:55pm
@msa Not sure if he is mature enough to even weigh his anti-state actions at this critical juncture.
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Jun 22, 2014 10:25pm
What's wrong in demanding a temporary pause in the on going military operation if thousands of civilians can be rescued. There are more than one lac civilians stranded only in Datta Khel due to curfew. You wish to kill them All? My faith in Imran Khan has increased many folds. He is speaking for the loss and sufferings of innocent qabaili pakhtoons. Love you Imran Khan
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Jun 22, 2014 10:38pm
he is being opportunist; knowing that govt has failed to handle Qadri's useless movement, he is taking advantage of the same to create mess on the roads where there is big threat from terrorists to kill people;
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Jun 22, 2014 10:39pm
This guy is consistently going downwards on the stupid scale.
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Jun 22, 2014 10:43pm
After 18 years in politics Imran Khan still has not learnt when to open his mouth and when to keep it shut.
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Jun 22, 2014 10:53pm
Is this guy for real! His govt should deal with IDPs and since:-)they are from FATA of course federal govt should do needful. Always its is the innocent people who suffer due to the politicking of the establishment the politicians and the bureacracy. And now we have another sideshow in Qadri. He is Canadian what is he doing here? First we have a Britisher on telephone now this Canadian Mullah?!
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Jun 22, 2014 10:53pm
Yeah, his beloved militants are surrounded and in trouble. In comes Imran with his rescue plan.
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Jun 22, 2014 10:54pm
He is really Talban Khan
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Jun 22, 2014 11:37pm
Breaks my heart to see merciless Pakistani Awam not effected by the plight of forced immigrants from FATA. I hope that ppl of major cities of Pakistan are forced to leave their homes & livelyhood whilst being bombed & live in tents - shame on Pakistan & Pakistanis!!! Ppl of FATA are children of lesser god.
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Jun 22, 2014 11:47pm
You need your own money to work in the Govt. Here in Pakistan, you never get any funds for such situations, there is no professionalism such as what you demand, in times like these USAID is your friend which you have befriended. Countries are not run like corporates, quit trying to ru KPK like Engro its not going to work as Engro had a variety of learned staff and KPK has its own culture.
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Jun 22, 2014 11:48pm
Kpk is only goverment helping idps and Ik getting blamed! He is asking for help but punjab and sindh are silent very quick to start wars but no where to be seen to help idps. Disgusting!
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Jun 22, 2014 11:57pm
khan sb... u disappointed us. I just like you as a cricketer from today.
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Jun 23, 2014 12:00am
Quite right...lives of stranded women and children should be safeguarded. I can
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Jun 23, 2014 12:24am
PAT and PTI ..... both are loosers.....
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Jun 23, 2014 12:31am
Those criticizing IK have no regard for the poor IDPs who are being displaced due to this war. He is clearly saying that "temporarily halt bombardments in areas of North Waziristan where the civilian population has not evacuated"
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Jun 23, 2014 12:37am
This guy has disappointed everyone with zero performance and only finger pointing
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Jun 23, 2014 12:38am
Nobody bombs their own people. India never bombed Kashmir, even at the height of insurgency. There are no Kashmiri IDPs.
Apparently, Pakistan doesn't have such concerns. The question is : Does Pakistan consider the people outside Karachi and Lahore as its people, because I am sure Pakistan will never bomb Karachi or Lahore.
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Jun 23, 2014 12:44am
Does he think its a cricket match?
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Jun 23, 2014 01:57am
Imran Khan is so far sighted..... hoping to secure more votes for the next elections.
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Jun 23, 2014 02:30am
how about paying compensation to Sindh as whenever anything happens in any corner of the country whether it is natural tragedy or so called drama operations , people rushed into the province ..!!
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Jun 23, 2014 02:52am
someone feels for these innocent people being left without homes. people saying against him, all these will change sides when operation will haappen in their hometowns
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Jun 23, 2014 04:51am
Imran Khan is the ONLY sensible guy in the corrupt political world of Pakistan. His every criticism is correct. You'll understand his criticism if you can Think. KPK is being flooded with IDP, does Govt care? Noo, they are not helping KPK govt, because their priority is not IDP, its their pocket, seat and ways to make KPK govt and IK look bad, at any cost, the cost now is the poor IDP.
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Jun 23, 2014 05:28am
He is played by qadri quershi and deep desire to be in news all the time. That's why he is trying to give statements he should avoid . After he founds he is wrong he just shakes his head . He forgot he is not playing cricket but with the fate of nation. So be careful before u open mouth
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Jun 23, 2014 05:37am
@Parvez I fully subscribe to your comment. He has to do away with his 'know-all' attitude
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Jun 23, 2014 06:28am
All operations should be permanently suspended and all KpP/IDP should be sent to aZAD kashmir.
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Jun 23, 2014 06:52am
Unfortunately Imran Khan is very confused. Imran is very loud and clear what appears to be against national interest. Is he unaware of the need for national unity or is there something that the government, military, and rest of the nation does not understand?
Last week he gave full support and today he completely undermines his own statement.
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Jun 23, 2014 06:59am
@Rashid Ishaq - this is best excuse, I am surprised
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Jun 23, 2014 07:00am
@Jawad U Rahman - he is only saying stop bombing not asking to create exit routes
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Jun 23, 2014 07:31am
Don't you see the innocent people over there in Nwa, he is a true leader and therefore feeling the pain of their people. Punjab , sindh already stopped them from entering into their province. What an irony, now they will get a passport to travel to these provinces. Plz understand it that they are displaced for the better future of pakistan.
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Jun 23, 2014 08:00am
IDPs this time are a big issue because no one believes that the conditions will ever be conducive for them to return to their homes.
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Jun 23, 2014 08:46am
Suspend operation so that the battered militants regather??
What is this man upto??
This is the height of Bad Governance, when the entire Government of KPK is afraid of coming to the media and the Party Head (not representing the people of the province) starts meddling in the affairs and keeps on taking u-turns after u-turns.
The Federal Government should release this money to the Army rather than paying him for his politics of u-turns.
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Jun 23, 2014 11:21am
Is there any humanity left in us? Are the residents (women, children, old and young) of FATA really not humans? Shame on all who are criticizing his statement. I wish you face a situation where terrorists find shelter near your homes and your cities are bombed leaving you stranded, and if someone raises voice for you to be safely evacuated, he is bashed and criticized like IK has been done here. This pathetic nation truly deserves the condition it finds itself in
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Jun 23, 2014 12:27pm
@Bilal Get your facts straight. He is in Bannu already.
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Jun 23, 2014 01:38pm
IK should show maturity. This is no time to make meaningless statements
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Jun 23, 2014 01:41pm
IDPs require our help. IK is only requesting halt of operation in civilian populated areas and the army has the same thinking.
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Jun 23, 2014 01:47pm
Reply TO ALL @ he is not saying to not conduct operation. He is saying to hold on a bit to let innocent people move out and also its not just KPK job to shelter these all IDP's. PMLN again plays politics by keeping next election in mind by destabilizing KPK Govt and later blame that KPK never fix their issues during their elected time. Ofcourse they shall not be able to manage Province growth when million of IDP's just living in KPK on local GOVT funding. Where now KPK spend their allocated budget ? either on province development or IDP's food and health. PMLN purposely not inform KPK to plan because they want to put hurdle on KPK growth and now not accepting IDP's to other provinces. On top of it PMLN (Federal GOVT) inform all foreign NGO's that we handle all IDP's easily...... IK is correct to ask 6 billion to manage IDP's life and also KPK growth towrads success. From where he bring money if Federal GOVT not issue any funding ???? PMLN again playing politics on the ground of IDP's.
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Jun 23, 2014 07:09pm
Those who are mocking IK are actually mocking those IDPs who are left in scorching heat with their families and children to fend themselves. Do you lot have no shame left in you?
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Jun 23, 2014 08:31pm
@Khan IK is may be the only political figure who went to Bannu and I hope NS, Bilawal and Hamza Shareef should also go to see the ground realities by their own eyes.
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Jun 24, 2014 07:29am
@Ali Read his statement. He is asking the entire operation to be halted not just bombing to stop.
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Jun 25, 2014 04:18am
Please, can all this political squabbling stop! Now is not the time for name-calling, blame games, 'I am more patriotic than you' kind of talk. There is nothing wrong in IK wanting the needs of IDP's to be given priority. Pakistani government should do all it can, in thought and in deed, to ensure the safety of the IDPs and minimize their suffering! But no quarter should be given to the terrorists to gain breathing time to regroup and rearm themselves! This is a delicate balancing act, to be done wisely not emotionally! Leave it to the experts and trust their judgement!
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