ISLAMABAD – Smelling a rat in the recent killings of Shias in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan Tuesday announced to hold much-hyped PTI’s peace march to Waziristan on October 6.
Addressing a news conference here at party’s central secretariat Khan said peace march to restive Waziristan would be the first-ever practical step by some Pakistani political party towards engaging war-hit tribal people in dialogue that, according to him, was the only viable solution to end the ongoing ‘US-waged’ war on terror.
“The other’s war, Pakistan has been fighting since long, has not only give an unprecedented rise to terrorism and extremism, but it has also bolstered sectarian divides in the country, that is resulting in ever-increasing incidents of targeted killings of Shia Muslims,” Imran observed. Sharing the details of his recent visit to sectarian violence-hit Gilgit-Baltistan, Khan said apparently there were no divides among various Muslim sects living in the area but some ‘foreign hands’ were involved in the saga.
Lambasting the government over the current law and order situation, PTI chief said government should step down if it could not control the situation, as mere lip-service and traditional condemnations would not work now.
“During my visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, I found a sense of insecurity among Shias. They are afraid. And same is the situation in Balochistan,” Khan remarked.
Imran said the peace caravan comprising representatives of international human rights organisations, foreign media, Mehsud tribe elders and notables from UK and the US would leave for Waziristan on October 6.
After night stay in DG Khan the caravan comprising at least 100,000 people would reach South Waziristan on October 7.
“We are left with only one option, that is to engage tribal people in negotiations. Joining hands with them would help sign peace agreements to end to the unending war,” Khan elaborated.
He said proposed North Waziristan military operation would further the law and order situation.
Responding a question, Imran said risks were involved in whole episode of peace march, but we had the example of PTI’s Quetta rally, where thousands converged to his call and nothing harm occurred.
“Through peace march, we are talking about political settlement of this issue, as everyone including Pakistani Army, tribal people and Pakistanis want return of normalcy in the region”.
To a question, Imran said so far no political party especially the PML-N had contacted him for upcoming caretaker setup. He said his party had served notice to PML-N leader Khawaja Asif for baseless allegations of corruption in Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital.