ISLAMABAD - Ignoring a travel warning issued by the US State Department for Pakistan, a 30-member US civil society delegation organised by a peace group Code Pink has reached the Federal capital, Islamabad, to participate in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) October 7th anti-drone rally to South Waziristan.
"We will be among those marching to Waziristan to protest US war policies and CIA's killer drone programme for Pakistan," said Anne Wright - a former US diplomat and a retired Army Colonel from Hawaii who is leading 30 delegates ranging in age from 23 to 85 - while addressing a joint news conference with PTI Chairman Imran Khan here at party's central office.
The delegation comprising members of civil society and parents of US army soldiers has already been involved in sensitising American people about drone strikes and US war policies, despite the fact that 83 per cent of the US citizens support the use of drones in Pakistan.
Anne Wright said back in the US they had protested against the drone attacks outside air force bases, at the headquarters of drone manufactures and at drone lobbyist events, adding, the Pakistanis should also force their government for the purpose.
"We came here to see those places which are hit by drones and also willing to meet with people who became victims of these attacks. We want to tell Pakistanis that Americans are with you," she added.
Anne Wright said that US was violating the sovereignty of Pakistan by carrying out drone strikes.
To a question about travel warning issued by the US State Department, she said, "We believe that travel warning is issued because the US government does not want us to see what they are doing."
She said US Federal court has recently asked CIA to inform about drone programme in Pakistan but they simply refused to tell anything.
She said: "We believe the President of the US is killing innocent people in Pakistan, that is wrong."
Addressing on the occasion, Imran Khan said that refusal of visas to foreign journalists and other peace campaigners by Pakistani authorities was tantamount to their (Pakistan) support for drone strikes.
"They have given visas to a few but with restriction of travel to a few cities," he said.
On the occasion, both Imran Khan and Anne Wright also condemned recently released anti-Islam film that has provoked violent protests in Pakistan. Meanwhile, PTI while unfolding the two days anti-drone rally programme has also established coordination centres countywide.
The participants of the rally would leave for DI Khan on October 6th at 9 am from PTI central secretariat at Islamabad.
After night stay at DI Khan the participants would leave for Jandola (Kotkai) on October 7th.