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Published 06 Dec, 2013 07:39am

Imran warns against misadventure by centre

ISLAMABAD, Dec 5: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan warned on Thursday that there would be no government at the centre in the event of any misadventure against his party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing his supporters at a sit-in organised by the KP cabinet in the D-Chowk in front of the Parliament House, he said blocking Nato supplies was not a violation of the national foreign policy.

When asked to explain what compelled Mr Khan to make this statement about any attempt to destabilise the KP government, a senior PTI leader said his party’s chairman just wanted to put across the message that if somebody was thinking of imposing governor’s rule in KP the party would not sit idle.

A narrative was being increasingly built that by blocking Nato containers the PTI was violating the foreign policy and, therefore, the federal government could impose governor’s rule in the province, he said.

Members of the KP cabinet, headed by Pervez Khattak had come to the capital to register their protest against drone attacks to speaker of the National Assembly.

After the sit-in they walked to the Parliament House.

According to PTI spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari, Mr Khan’s statement was to make it clear that his party would stand by its principled stand. “Some people have been talking of governor’s rule in KP and we wanted to make it clear that we will stand firm on our commitments made during elections against drone attacks.”

Mr Khan congratulated PTI workers and supporters of other political parties for bringing Nato supplies through KP to a halt.

He said the PTI was looking for a complete suspension of Nato supplies through the country and the sit-in was part of its campaign to persuade other political parties to back the cause.

“Time has come for our political leaders to stop telling lies to the people of the country. If they are against drone attacks they should join us and if not then they should tell people the truth that they don’t have courage to look the Americans in the eye.”

He reiterated his stand that PTI would keep blocking Nato containers until the US government gave assurances that drone attacks would be stopped.

Chief Minister Khattak submitted a letter to the NA speaker, describing the latest drone strike in Hangu as ‘naked aggression’.

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