Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan condemned the fresh carnage in tribal areas on Monday and offered his mediation to find out a political solution of the crisis. Speaking at a news conference, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced to launch a campaign to put military actions to an end in the tribal areas.
Imran, who was kept under house arrest on the eve of arrival of US President George W. Bush to Pakistan, warned that the ongoing carnage in Waziristan would destroy the very foundations of the federation.
The government has conceded that more than 100 'pro-Taleban militants' have been killed in clashes with security forces during last three days in a remote tribal town.
The PTI chief said military action against civilians should never be an option to resolve any issue, including unrest in tribal areas and Balochistan.
Imran Khan demanded of the government to send a multi-party fact-fining mission to the troubled Waziristan agency to resolve the issue through dialogue.
He said that pitching the army against own people would only create hatred against armed forces and added that calling tribals 'miscreants' was the term used against Bengalis, which resulted into fall of Dhaka.
He said military rulers and their civilian collaborators have not learnt lessons from the tragic past when half of the country was lost just because a military ruler was not willing to hand over power and the transition to democracy ended with the separation of East Pakistan.
Speaking about the on-going war of words between President General Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, veteran cricketer said, 'the blame game reflects the government's failed foreign policy.'
Lamenting on the volatile law and order situation in the country, particularly in Balochistan, the PTI chief feared the country would soon be plunged into civil war.
Khan informed newsmen that he was in contact with other opposition leaders for a joint struggle to restore real democracy in the country.
He said: "Events have proved that the military rulers are neither competent nor qualified therefore they must hand over power to a neutral caretaker set-up formed with the consensus of the opposition parties and elections should be held under an independent election commission.
To a query regarding his house arrest, chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf said his call of protest was justified and added that nearly 160 PTI workers were still in police custody.
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