Karachi rally against bombing of Pakistan's tribal areas (slideshow)

Civil society, labour unions, political parties and student marched on November 1 in protest the Pakistan military and US bombing in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. US missile strikes hours apart killed at least 27 people on October 31 near the border with Afghanistan, only days after Pakistan demanded that the United States halt an intensifying campaign of using Predator drones to bomb tribal areas in Pakistan.

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Frontier Post: Immediate halt to operation in tribal areas demanded

By Shoukat Iqbal Khattak
KARACHI: People’s Resistance Movement, a civil society group, took out a rally here on Saturday to protest against the military operation in Bajaur, Swat, Waziristan and Mohmand Agency and the ongoing violence in the NWFP.
Workers of Labour Party of Pakistan, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and International Socialists led the rally, which started from the Regal Chowk, and after passing through a number of bazaars culminated at the Press Club.
Protesters displaying banners and placards chanted anti-US slogans and criticized the government and demanded an immediate halt to the military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Addressing the rally the speakers, condemning the killing of innocent people in the operation, said some elements were hatching conspiracies and pitting tribesmen against the army.
They also expressed their concern over the clashes in the Kurram Agency and said that the local administration had failed to protect life and property of the people.
They said that thousands of people had moved from Bajaur to seek shelter to other areas as a result of clashes but government have not taken any serious step to end the hostilities.
They said that military launched an operation in August to establish the writ of the government over the strategically key region of Bajaur but has unfortunately been involved in heavy fighting since then.
About 4,000 families, or around 20,000 individuals, have fled Bajaur and have sought shelter in Kunar province of Afghanistan. They urged the government to stop following Musharraf policies as people of the area need peace not bombs.
Spokesman for the People’s Resistance Movement said that citizens of Fata were their brothers and sisters and expressed solidarity with them;
“We share their grief. They have lost their family members, their homes and their livelihood.”
He said that the government should provide relief to the affectees and should take urgent action to end the miseries of refugees all over Pakistan.
He said that about 500,000 people have been internally displaced.

Peoples Resistance Rally Call

November 1, 2008
Peoples Resistance, a civil society group, is honoured to bring together civil society members, trade unions, students, and political parties in a rally in protest of the massacre of innocent civilians in Bajaur, Swat, Waziristan, Kurram Agency, Khar, and Mahmond Agency.
We condemn the United States and Pakistan for their recent military aggression in the region.
As a result of these military operations, several thousands of innocent civilians including women and children have been killed. About 500,000 people have become internally displaced people. Scores of FATA Pashtuns are regularly arrested and killed as suspected militants without any verification that they are in fact militants.
Despite the loss of innocent life, the battle against militancy and extremism is far from won.
We believe that the battle against religious extremism can not be won by wanton and indiscriminate killing of civilians.
We want our government to examine and seek political solutions backed by public dialogue and consensus. We want Pakistan to enforce a foreign policy that is independent of the agendas of foreign governments, like the United States, when it comes at the cost of Pakistani sovereignty, its economic prosperity, and its fundamental duty to protect its citizens.
We want media to talk candidly about the true nature of the militant threat and its long termed remedy. We desire a society free from the chains of violence, weapons, and drugs, and we need media to help us build toward that.
We out rightly reject aerial bombing and we question the formation of local lashkars to combat extremism. Violence destroys a society and it is not the solution.
We demand economic justice for FATA.
Citizens of FATA are our brothers and sisters and we express solidarity towards them. We share in their grief. They have lost their family members, their homes, and their livelihoods.
We urge the government to provide instantaneous relief to those affected by this war, and take urgent action to end the misery of refugees living in deplorable conditions all over Pakistan.
We demand that the affected people be provided reparations for the loss of life and livelihoods.
We urge the international community to take notice of the refugee situation and take action.
We also urge them to exert pressure on the United States to halt its attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan stop Pakistan from aiding the US war effort.
We call all concerned citizens to join our rally.
PR is joined by the students of Karachi University,Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Awami Tehrik, Labor Party, Pakhtunkwa Milli Awami Party, National Workers Party, International Socialists, Tabaqati Jehdojehad, Inqalabi Jamhoori Committee, Sindh Bar Council, Mehnat Jamhori Mahaz, Jeay Sindh, National Trade Union Federation, Trade Union Defense Campaign, Mutaahida Labour Federation, Sui Gas Workers Union, All Pakistan Trade Union Federation, Railway Workers Federation, Personal Foundation, Socialist Employee Front, Pashtun Peace Forum.

Sources: SPN, Frontier Post