Imran Khan leads anti-drone protest
- 12 years ago
Crowds throng around Pakistanis cricket-legend turned politician, Imran Khan, as he sets off on a peace trek to protest US drone attacks in the country's tribal areas.
The former cricketer said he was hopeful of a big turnout for the trek and slammed reports the Taliban would attack protesters.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF PAKISTAN TEHREEK-E-INSAF (PTI), CRICKETER-TURNED-POLITICIAN IMRAN KHAN, SAYING:
"I know there is a huge interest despite the government trying everything to sabotage it by saying the Taliban have released suicide bombers on the way."
Thousands are expected to join the procession which is due to end on Sunday with a large rally in South Waziristan which Khan will address.
A recent U.S. academic report says more than 3,000 people have been killed by drone strikes in Pakistan in the last six years - many more than the U.S government acknowledges. .
The former cricketer said he was hopeful of a big turnout for the trek and slammed reports the Taliban would attack protesters.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF PAKISTAN TEHREEK-E-INSAF (PTI), CRICKETER-TURNED-POLITICIAN IMRAN KHAN, SAYING:
"I know there is a huge interest despite the government trying everything to sabotage it by saying the Taliban have released suicide bombers on the way."
Thousands are expected to join the procession which is due to end on Sunday with a large rally in South Waziristan which Khan will address.
A recent U.S. academic report says more than 3,000 people have been killed by drone strikes in Pakistan in the last six years - many more than the U.S government acknowledges. .