Drone attacks taking place in continuation of PM’s visit to US; Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri speaks in Express News programme

Lahore; Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the leader of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, has said that killing of Hakimullah Mehsud along with his companions is a continuation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to the United States. He, however, made it categorically clear that what he said did not mean that the Government of Pakistan was involved in the murder of Hakimullah Mehsud. By the continuation of the US visit, he meant that the drone attacks would continue unabated as there was an agreement to continue with the drones between Pakistani government and the Obama administration. He said that when you agreed and settled on the policy of continuation of drone attacks, it was very likely and natural that anyone could fall prey to them. He could be Hakimullah Mehsud or anyone else. It was a coincidence that Hakimullah Mehsud happened to be target of the drone attack.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while talking to Imran Khan, anchor person of Express News weekly edition of ‘Takrar’ on Saturday night. He said that the joint communiqué issued after the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Shrif did not contain any mention of ‘drones’. He said that Nawaz Sharif thanked Obama for the US cooperation in war against terrorism, adding that he did not mention decisions taken in the all parties conference. He said that the Prime Minister’s walking to the office of US Secretary of State John Kerry was embarrassing for the nation. He said that Nawaz-Kerry meeting decided to continue the drone policy and that the American National Security Agency would be supplied information unilaterally without taking ISI into confidence. Other matters that were agreed upon included no reopening of corruption cases against Asif Zardari; Musharraf would be freed from cases and sent abroad while dialogue will be held with those groups of Taliban that had the backing of the US.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that during the Prime Minister’s stay in the US for 4 days at the head of a delegation, he was given four hours including his meetings with President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, senior officials of the Energy Department, Pentagon and CIA. He said that the armed forces were in a position to stop drone attacks but it required political will. He said that Nawaz Sharif agreed there that his government would continue war against terrorism, asking them to pay 1.5 billion US dollars incurred in connection with the war effort.

Why was PTI chief Imran khan reluctant to raise a voice in the national assembly as to why the Prime Minister was being away from the country since his US visit?, he asked. He said that the fact of the matter was that the Prime Minister could not face the people of Pakistan. He asked did anyone ever see as non-serious a Prime Minister as Nawaz Sharif. He said that he was comfortably busy in foreign visits in these circumstances, while the country did not have any full-time Foreign Minister. He said that only God knew about the fate of talks with the Taliban.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that preparations were underway about peaceful revolution. He said that he would give a call for revolution for which invitation would be extended to all political parties and people of all sections of society. He said that we stood against terrorism, militancy, extremism, hooliganism, jingoism and military takeover. Addressing the people he said that it was not time to have best wishes while being glued onto TV screens. He asked the people to come out and support a democratic movement for change. He said that we would not return from Islamabad empty-handed.