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Published 07 Jul, 2012 03:06am

Protests in KP against Nato supply

PESHAWAR, July 6: Different political parties on Friday agitated across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against the reopening of Nato supply routes in the country declaring the development against the country’s sovereignty.

In Peshawar, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Insaf Student Federation activists staged a demonstration on Sher Shah Suri Road and demanded a permanent ban on the supply.

They announced that PTI chief Imran Khan would lead a demonstration in the city on July 14 against the resumption of Nato supply.

Led by ISF provincial president Hussain Ahmad, ISF Peshawar president Sohail Afridi and Insaf Youth Wing president Meena Khan Afridi, the demonstrators blocked the road by burning old tyres and shouted slogans against the government.

Mr Hussain said restoration of Nato supply to the US forces in Afghanistan was tantamount to committing a treason against army men, who died in the Nato attack on Salala checkpost, and that it was against the sovereignty of the country.

“Pakistan has made a mistake by becoming become a US ally in the war against terrorism because the war is not in favour of the country and badly affected its economy,” he said.

The ISF provincial president said at a time when the US was killing innocent tribesmen by drone attacks, the government had allowed the reopening of supply routes for the US forces in Afghanistan.

He said the ban on Nato supply had led to reduction of drone attacks in tribal areas and there was a greater likelihood that the number of such attacks would increase yet again with poor tribesmen becoming their sufferers by and large.

Mr Hussain said Nato supply should be reopened only after the US ended drone attacks.

In Lakki Marwat, too, Jamaat-i-Islami activists protested the reopening of Nato supply routes.

JI district chief Maulana Malik Meer Shah led a demonstration in Naurang town.

Carrying party flags and shouting slogans against the government, The protesters marched through bazaars and converged near Phattak (old railway crossing) before blocking the main GT Road to traffic.

Speakers condemned the government’s decision to reopen Nato supply line and said they won’t let Nato goods pass through Pakistani territory into Afghanistan.

They said besides bulldozing the resolution of national assembly, the government had also put the country’s prestige and sovereignty at stake.

In Karak, JI took out a rally from Pir Odeen Shah mosque to Saddam Chowk against the opening of Nato supply routes.

JI district president Maulana Tasleem Iqbal and general secretary Azam Hamayun, who led protesters, demanded that parliamentarians resign as resumption of Nato supply through Pakistan in line with a government decision violated theirresolution passed against it.

In Buner, JI and Islami Jamiat Tulaba workers marched from Daggar Chowk to the press club against the reopening of the Nato supply line.

JI district nazim Ashiq Ali, who led protesters, criticised the government for failing to force the US into apologising for Salala attack.

“Mere sorry over the Salala killings is not enough. We’ll resist the resumption of Nato supply,” he said.

In Timergara, JI district chief Maulana Asadullah led party workers into marching through the city against the reopening of Nato supply line.

He declared the development against the country’s sovereignty and demanded early suspension of Nato supply.

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