Taliban warn Imran against anti-drone rally

While terming Imran Khan’s rally to South Waziristan “a mere drama”, the Taliban has warned Tehreek-e-Insaaf Pakistan not to go ahead with the rally or face music. According to media reports, the Taliban have distributed a pamphlet in Tank, the gateway to South Waziristan, and termed Imran Khan as an agent of the United States, Britain and Israel and alleged that the cricketer-turned-politician is politicising the issue and has no sympathy for the poor tribesmen. Interestingly, the pamphlet has been issued from an unknown Taliban group Jaish-ul-Mujahedeen-al-Khilafat. Imran Khan’s party is planning to lead a convoy from Islamabad to South Waziristan on October 7 to protest against US drone strikes and has said that no- one could stop the peace march, adding that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari would be directly responsible for any untoward situation. The one-page TTP’s pamphlet, written in Urdu, was distributed in Tank Bazaar on Thursday night. It said, “We inform all and sundry with humble way that Imran Khan/TIP is taking a rally into South Waziristan with a slogan of anti-drone. (He has no sympathy with the tribesmen) actually it is a drama and he is the agent of Israel, US and Britain. On the politics of drone he is promoting the Jewish and agendas of Christianity (in Pakistan).” The pamphlet further added, “We humbly request the people not to participate in this rally otherwise Imran Khan would be responsible if something unpleasant happens.” Meanwhile, a South Waziristan Agency (SWA) grand tribal jirga on Friday announced to provide security for ‘peace march’ planned by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to South Waziristan Agency. The jirga meeting took place at Tank Town Hall which was attended by elders of Mehsud and Barki tribes. Representatives of all tribal agencies were present in the meeting.