The ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and its coalition partners on Sunday decided to postpone the planned sit-in against the Nato supplies due to the sectarian unrest in Rawalpindi. The announcement was made by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa General Secretary Shabir Ahmad Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Sharam Khan Tarkai during a joint press conference here on Sunday after a meeting held to devise a joint strategy for blocking Nato supplies. Leaders of the coalition parties including JI and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP) participated in the meeting.
Later, the PTI Central Media Cell issued a press release stating that PTI Chairman Imran Khan, while keeping in view the grave security situation in the country, has announced the postponement of the November 20 protest 'sit in' against drone attacks and stopping Nato supplies, which will now be staged on November 23.
"This is not a cancellation but a postponement in response to the sensitivities of our people and the acute security situation prevailing in the country," Khan explained. The PTI and its coalition partners had planned a sit-in on November 20 to block trucks carrying supplies for coalition forces in Afghanistan through the province.
The three parties said that a future strategy about anti-drone protest would be announced within 24 hours.
Talking to media persons here on Sunday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture and Information Technology, Sharam Khan Tarkai said that the sit-in had been postponed, while the new scheduled will be announced within next 24 hours. He added that the decision was taken due to the sectarian clashes in Rawalpindi after consultation with other coalition parties.
Earlier, speaking during the meeting held at Al-Markaz-e-Islami, senior JI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister, Sirajul Haq, said that the federal government should block Nato supplies routes, which is in its best interest.
The JI leader said that the Nato supply routes via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be blocked on November 20, as announced by the coalition government. He further said that a historic sit-in would be staged on main Nato supply route.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister said the Federal government should formulate foreign policy in light of the joint resolutions of parliament and decision of All Parties conference. The JI will not allow establishment of US colony in Pakistan, he vowed.