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Hundreds rally in NW Pakistan to oppose NATO supply line restoration

15 June 2012 19:25 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Hundreds of people took out a procession in northwest Pakistan on Friday against the possible restoration of supply line for NATO troops in Afghanistan, APA reports quoting XInhua.

The demonstrators were chanting slogans against the United States and its NATO allies and said they would oppose the reopening of supply line for NATO.

Pakistan closed the supply line for NATO forces in last November after the U.S. fighter jets bombed Pakistani border posts and killed 24 soldiers. Talks for the reopening of the supply line have not yet been successful and the United States announced on Monday that it has withdrawn negotiators from Islamabad after six- week talks.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has hinted that a deal on the reopening of supply line could be signed shortly as most of the pending issues have been resolved.

The Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC), an alliance of religious and political parties, organized rallies in Pakistan major cities to oppose the government’s decision on the restoration of NATO supply line.

Chairman of the DPC Maulana Samiul Haq led the rally in the northwestern city of Peshawar, telling demonstrators that the alliance will resist allowing NATO supplies.

He said the United States has did not show any respect to the Pakistani parliament, which had called for halt to drone strikes and also sought apology from the United States over the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

He demanded the United States to stop drone attacks on the Pakistani soil and also cease its interference in the country’s internal affairs.

He said Pakistan need to be freed from the influence of the United States and its allies, and demanded severance of all ties with the United States.

The demonstrators were holding banners and placards, inscribed with slogans against the NATO. They marched through several bazaars and terminated at the Kabili square in the city. Residents on both sides of the procession routes announced support for the Council.