Peshawar:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) organized a demonstration in Peshawar against drone strikes in tribal districts, with the participation of government ministers, members of the Assembly and party officials.
PTI has clearly indicated that drone attacks at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are unacceptable and have warned that if they are not arrested, the party will take all the necessary measures to stop them.
The demonstration was organized on the instructions of the founding president of PTI, who had called for demonstrations in tribal areas.
The demonstration in the Hashtnagri region of Peshawar brought together the provincial president of PTI, Junaid Akbar, the former president of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser, the president of the region of Peshawar, Atif Khan, the provincial ministers Ihtesham Ali, Abdul Karim Tordher, the president of the district, ArbiF, Arberi Ali, Bangash, Fazal Elahi, Shandana Gulzar and other party officials.
The speakers of the demonstration condemned the drone strikes, declaring that innocent civilians are targeted.
They described attacks as a violation of human rights and an affront to national sovereignty, and urged the federal government to worry immediately.
They noted that the founding president of PTI has always opposed the drone strikes and raised their voice against them during international forums. Due to PTI’s firm position, no drone shot occurred during his stay.
The speakers added that the whole nation is being held with the position of the founding president.
PTI was the first part to oppose the drone strikes and even organized a sit-in to block NATO supply lines.
The founding president was the only leader to have the courage to say “absolutely not” to a superpower, claimed speakers.
“If these attacks are not stopped, we will stop them ourselves,” the speakers warned. The provincial government has also published a policy declaration declaring that drone strikes will not be accepted in the province.
They stressed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has endured the conflict for over 40 years, which has devastated its economy. The province is based strongly on trade with Afghanistan and is looking for good relations with its neighbor.
The leaders also promised to continue their fight against the 26th constitutional amendment and declared that the nation was once again going into the street to demand the release of the founding president of PTI.
They criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying that he only has a mandate of 16 seats and calling into question the legitimacy of his administration, alleging that even the families of certain government legislators do not recognize them as MNA.