PESHAWAR, Nov 26: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has sought an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss the growing concern and anger among the people of the province over the recent US drone attack in Hangu.
The chief minister said that there was already serious resentment over the ‘unbridled’ US drone attacks in Fata and the strike in Hangu had further inflamed the situation.
An almost similar letter has been sent to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
According to officials, the chief minister asked the federal government to stop Nato trucks from entering KP to defuse the public anger to some extent.
“Kindly consider convening a meeting at the federal level with invitations to all provinces to evolve a common strategy. We must show to the world that we stand united when it comes to defending the sovereignty of Pakistan,” the letter said.
“We can also discuss at the proposed meeting if another all-party conference could be convened in view of the current situation.”
According to officials, the chief minister said that elected representatives of the people were morally obliged to stand by them and address their genuine grievances.
Mr Khattak said the provincial government was aware of the hazards posed by the emerging situation. Although law-enforcement agencies have been directed to maintain peace and order during the current protests, it shall be most unfortunate if people expressing their justified resentment were confronted by their own police force to avert the possibility of anti-Pakistan elements pursuing their agenda.
Meanwhile, workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf vowed on Tuesday to continue their protests till the US drone strikes were stopped. They held sits-in at Hayatabad and four other places in the province.
PTI’s Peshawar general secretary Zahir Younas Mohmand said at a news conference that activists of the party were determined to continue their protests.
“Nobody can stop us from our rightful protest against illegal US attacks in Fata and KP,” he said.
Tuesday’s sit-in was marred by an in-fighting that was followed by firing in the air and stampede at a camp.