Karachi: The Pakistani Taliban has said it has offered Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan its security for their upcoming peace march into the country”s tribal region, protesting against U.S. drone strikes.
According to The News, senior commanders of the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said a recent meeting, headed by the group”s leader Hakimullah Mehsud, set aside earlier instructions to send suicide bombers to assassinate the former cricketer. Instead, the TTP noted Khan”s opposition to U.S. drone strikes against militants in its territory, and hence offered security assistance, the paper said.
“We are ready to provide them security if they need. We endorse Imran Khan”s plea that drone strikes are against our sovereignty. The anti-drone rallies should have been taken out by the religious leaders long ago but Imran had taken the lead and we wouldn”t harm him or his followers,” TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said.
The TTP had earlier opposed the peace march and had threatened to attack Imran terming him a “liberal”.
Imran said he had been promised the support of local tribes but was worried the government was opposed to allowing foreign peace campaigners and journalists to attend. (ANI)