Thaindian News

Islamabad, March 26 (IANS) Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan has warned the Pakistan government that if it did not immediately stop US drone attacks in the country’s northwest, his party would block the road used to transport supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Imran, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party, led an anti-US rally in Lahore Friday to protest the release of CIA security contractor Raymond Davis, who shot dead two men in the Punjab province city and escaped trial by paying “blood money” to their families.

The News International reported that as the protesters marched to the spot where Davis gunned down the two men, the demonstration was “a moderate affair, with songs and music playing a key role”.

Imran described the protest as a “freedom rally”, saying time has come to “liberate” Pakistan from the “slavery of the US”.

He claimed 32,000 Pakistanis have been killed in American drone attacks so far, and warned the government that if it did not stop the remote-controlled US air strikes by pilotless planes, his party would organise a sit-in on the road used to send supplies to NATO forces based in Afghanistan.

Imran said it was regrettable that the government freed Davis by “forcing” the families of his two victims to accept “blood money” under Islamic compensation laws.

“It was a fixed match. The blood of Pakistanis is being sold,” he said.

Imran expressed his party’s firm resolve to ensure justice for every segment of the society.

He urged the youth to unite against the “forces of evil exploiting the rights of Pakistanis”, the daily said.

The World Cup-winning cricketer criticised politicians who have stashed up wealth abroad, and said people would not allow such leaders to participate in national politics.