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PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would be celebrating Independence Day festivities in Bannu with those displaced as a result of the ongoing military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region.
Official sources said the prime minister will be present at the Independence Day ceremony which will be held at the Baka Khel camp for Internally Displaced Persons in Bannu.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-General Khalid Rabbani would be hoisting the national flag on Independence Day at the camp, while Prime Minister Sharif will join the celebrations with the IDPs later on.
The prime minister will be visiting Bannu at a time when the PTI will be marching on Islamabad to protest against alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet and provincial legislators including Chief Minister Pervez Khattak were busy taking off for the long march as the first convoy of some 200 workers led by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Sajid Nawaz and Member of Provincial Assembly Jehandad Khan have started their journey on foot.
The PTI leaders said that the convoy would later be joined by party workers in Nowshera, Swabi, Jehangira and other cities and would march on foot to Islamabad.
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Comments (40) Closed
Aug 13, 2014 12:15pm
Suggestion: PTI must also spend a high profile leader at this event, just to tell everyone that despite political differences, we are one on national issues.
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Aug 13, 2014 12:33pm
point scoring
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Aug 13, 2014 12:39pm
Where was he on Eid? It is too late now ...
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Aug 13, 2014 12:43pm
May be PM should also travel a little further to show solidarity with the troops .
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Aug 13, 2014 12:43pm
Too late mr PM
You will only receive hostility from those people because they know you are visiting for your self interest since you are in trouble politically
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Aug 13, 2014 12:44pm
DAWN please publish my comment! Am am a loyal reader of this website and the newspaper.
He once came to the jinazah of two shaheed Army Officers in Chaklala Cantt Rwp before the operations. He looked annoyed, didn't give any speech to encourage our brave soldiers. I was very surprised at his attitude. I wonder what he had been doing if not even attending parliment sessions. (Gen Raheel was in China then but Joint chief of staff came.)
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Aug 13, 2014 12:49pm
Such morale bolstering patriotic motions of the PM shall bring harmony and compatibility amongst the nation.
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Aug 13, 2014 12:53pm
He is playing politics. Too late to show something and YES he is very afraid from PTI or else he dont even bother to come yesterday for a speech...... Still people who believe PMLN is look after poor they are stupid. PMLN only behind business for themselves onlyyyyyyyyy.
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Aug 13, 2014 12:58pm
Great! While Muslim Shower Khan is agitating, PM is making a point that he isn't really bothered. Muslim Shower Khan can agitate and PM will go on about the routine business of the state.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:00pm
Good move by PM but lame tactic to score points after what atrocities he has done.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:05pm
Political maneuvering. The prime minister is trying to twist and turn his way out of the current crisis. I wonder how the 'lion' characterization has stuck to this party for so long.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:30pm
Easier to leave the country in case if things get ugly.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:37pm
He wants to hide among the IDP's. Whose loyalties to Pakistan are suspect.
These IDP's don't consider themselves Pakistanis. Though they will take the
free food.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:44pm
Just a political stint.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:45pm
Desperation................written all over.
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Aug 13, 2014 01:58pm
where is Asad Omer and Hamid KHan
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Aug 13, 2014 02:05pm
He only comes out of hiding when there is a photo op, or to score a point. As usual he is in Bannu when he should be facing the wrath of the People. He learnt that lesson from Zardari, where there is a problem stay as far away as possible,and the problem will go away. We thought that as this was his third crack at being a statesman he may have learnt from his past mistakes, but the only thing he and his family have learnt is that get it quick, make sure their passports are current with an Umrah Visa, and be ready to go the moment the boots hit the ground.
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Aug 13, 2014 02:07pm
Good that the PM is not following the foot steps of Imran Khan.
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Aug 13, 2014 02:10pm
@Kaleem
Thank you for the suggestion. But my friend PTi had already done it. Maybe Media did not cover it. But Imran Khan spent his previous EID with IDP's.
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Aug 13, 2014 02:12pm
Another political stunt, do they ever get tired of all these games. Running away or showing solidarity difficult to say.
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Aug 13, 2014 02:28pm
Waziristan neglected for over 60 years on socio-economic terms. Now we all out there at the spur of the moment. Is this is a fishy move by the PM?
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Aug 13, 2014 02:31pm
Good idea... he is very smart... he just wants to stay away from Islamabad and Lahore and its great option for him..
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Aug 13, 2014 02:37pm
True leader doing something meaningful for the nation.Great message on independence day.Imran Khan should also think positive at least on independence day rather than causing chaos and disruption in collaboration with Qadri gangs
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Aug 13, 2014 03:32pm
@Peshawar wala Bro don't write such comments which put question mark on the loyality of Tribals of Waziristan. They are pakistanis at core with pride & high degree of loyality to the beloved nation.
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Aug 13, 2014 04:02pm
So PM will not sit it out in Islamabad when the million man march hits the capital. Last time President Zardari "escaped" to Karachi.
Great culture! The rulers retire in Dubai or England. The rulers run away when people come out in the streets.
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Aug 13, 2014 04:05pm
Noora kushti. lol
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Aug 13, 2014 04:57pm
A fake IDP camp will be set in PM house
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Aug 13, 2014 05:38pm
This family only functions when they feel the heat. Then they jump to attention and try and look busy - doing nothing!!
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Aug 13, 2014 05:47pm
That's the way to celebrate the 67th Day of Independence (14th August), Mr Prime Minister, and to 'lead from the front' and show 'strong & visible Leadership' and show your 'humility', 'compassion', 'motivate', and provide 'hope' to the displaced families and persons (almost 1m IDP's in total, and esp. the poverty-stricken people in refugee camps) of North Waziristan, even though the cynics and protesters will allege that it's a political strategy!
But, the 'true democrats' hope & pray that "Faith, Unity, and Discipline" will be upheld and 'peaceful & civilised protest - Azadi March' maintained by all concerned - Political Parties and the Protesters - en route and in Islamabad and the Establishment & the Government of Pakistan must take the lead in maintaining 'law & order without provocation' in order to ensure that matters do not get out-of-control, as the World watches you all on the 14th August.
From: A conscientious and deeply-concerned British-Pakistani national, a professional, and an Intl. Development management consultant
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Aug 13, 2014 07:31pm
Good decision by PM NS.
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Aug 13, 2014 07:44pm
Why would this trip be announced ahead of time and why would it be announced by the ISPR rather than Nawaz Sharif's office?
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Aug 13, 2014 08:18pm
@Nafees
And you stay on your laptop!
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Aug 13, 2014 08:20pm
@usman
And IK is very innocent and not playing politics at all!
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Aug 13, 2014 08:21pm
Good decision on the part of PM. GO IK, waste your and your die-hard blind followers time.
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Aug 13, 2014 08:55pm
@Omair
Really. Rumor spreaders lose their faith.
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Aug 13, 2014 10:22pm
political gimmick
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Aug 13, 2014 11:59pm
The IDPs at Bannu need food, water,shelter, medicines and a more permanent settlement arrangements. These people have been unlucky in that they have been displaced from their homes for no fault of their own. People of Pakistan despite suffering many hardships themselves need to dig deep into their pockets to help their less fortunate country men.
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Aug 14, 2014 02:49am
I was there when they started march on foot from Peshawar to Islamabad. They were not 200 but 120 persons.
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Aug 14, 2014 03:46am
That makes him just an hours flight to UAE
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Aug 15, 2014 11:24am
Any news that nawaz sharif fulfilled this promise or just point scoring??
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