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Drones that were invented to kill people only and used so frequently in the borders of Pakistan.Waziristan, a place that is at the center point of Drone Attacks by the US-led NATO forces. Where from thousands of residents got misplaced internally and had to lodge their families to safer places of Pakistan. Waziristan, a place that is forgotten even by its own rulers!Imran Khan the Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf lead a “Peace March” to South Waziristan with citizens of Pakistan, local media, with his own party workers and above all foreign journalists, anti war activists from the West.
This march started from Islamabad on Saturday the 6th of October 2012, the motorcade drove across Talagang, Chakwal, Kundian, Mianwali, Karak, Dera Ismail Khan and finally entered Waziristan; crossing Northern Punjab, Central and South Punjab from where it entered into the borders of Waziristan on Sunday 7th October 2012.
With hurdles created by the Administration to slow down or at some points to stop this March moving forward, the determination of Imran Khan kept the rally moving forward where finally it was stopped to move beyond Tank. PTI’s Chief Coordinatior DI Khan Malik Abdul Qayyum Khan criticized the government for blocking the routes towards Waziristan, creating further hurdles for the peace rally. He asserted that the government wanted to discourage people from Wana to join the march.There has been a lot of criticism regarding this “Peace March” by the parties of statuesque. Many points have been raised from them calling Khan “delusional” or a “Political point scorer” or a “Taliban Khan” or even “an agent of the West” only. Notable propaganda started which included Maulana Fazlur Rehman too. Khan accused JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman to have a strong hand in circulating adverse perception against PTI. “Fazlur Rehman is a charlatan who is spreading the wrong idea amongst people by labeling us as the agaents of Christians and Jews; as we are just trying to promote peace within the region,” said Khan. Khawaja Asif prominent PML (n) leader is quoted, “Everyone has seen that the PTI’s rally to Waziristan was a failure, similarly people would also disregard the PTI in the upcoming election.” He said that Imran Khan was making people of this country fool. Asif said that whenever there was any crisis situation in the country, Imran Khan was outside the country.
Local journalists and anchors condemned Imran Khan asking why he had not taken his March to the North Waziristan which was the most affected area by Drones. Khan on the other hand concerns that he was travelling with civilians, a place like that if anyone was hurt could have been disastrous for PTI and the blame would have rested on Khan's shoulders. So he took maximum measures not to expose foreign media, his own party workers and the local people to any mishap.
One wonders; what kept these critics from visiting the people of Waziristan in the last almost 5 years? Why couldn’t they politically point score? Who is to blame today? Imran Khan who started his dharnas (sit-ins) against NATO & Drones many years back or themselves who never moved a muscle to show solidarity with the people from whom they go to ask for votes? Why hasn’t any other party done this?
A place where not even the local media was allowed to go previously is there on the ground taking interviews of common people of that area. Whats remarkable is; No one in that area knows the name of the Prime Minister of Pakistan! Raja sahib they are your people, don’t you think you should be known to them? Own your people sir, why have you alienated them?
One needs to understand, the people of FATA were facing problems from three sides. One, there are attacks from the US-led NATO drones, two they have to face the Pakistan Army which they take as foreigners in their very conservative society, the army pickets affect the local people more since their women and children are thoroughly searched whenever they move around, thirdly, like in Swat the Taliban demand money from the local people, or their daughters in marriage or their sons to join in the fighting, a similar situation which was exposed in Swat. Taliban forcefully seek hideouts in the local populations which eventually expose civilians to the drones and Pakistan Army. Which has resulted in their children missing schools, their businesses lost and their agriculture has been damaged.
PTI has managed to bring together people of FATA with the common people of Pakistan, this is a monumental achievement which will benefit the country and its citizens in the long run. Creating the lost Jazba or zeal is vital at this moment for our nation. It has managed to highlight the menace of Drones which has killed innocent people, maimed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Whether Drones are stopped or not that is another story but what Imran Khan and PTI has achieved is that they have shown solidarity to a people, an area which was totally forgotten since the past five years. PTI today is the only party that has provided a shoulder for the people of FATA which they were looking for since the past five years.
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The above article was published on the following links.:
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/14276/ptis-peace-march-give-credit-where-it-is-due/
http://www.islamabadtimesonline.com/a-monumental-march/
http://www.dailyausaf.com/epaper/wp-content/uploads/2012/October/10/?pg=15
