PESHAWAR, Oct 2: The leaders of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) belonging to tribal areas have demanded of the government to end military operations in Fata and take concrete steps to stop drone attacks.

The PTI leaders including Iqbal Afridi of Khyber Agency, Gul Zafar of Bajaur Agency, Daud of Mohmand Agency and Nazar Nawaz told a press conference here on Tuesday that government should utilise peaceful means for establishment of peace in tribal areas.

They alleged that rulers were least bothered to minimise miseries of tribal people. “Tribal people are deliberately kept backward by imposing unjust military operations and US secrete drone attacks on them,” said Mr Afridi.

He said that the government failed to take any practical step to stop extrajudicial killings, drone attacks and military operations in Fata. He said that use of force was not a solution to the issue.

The PTI leader said that a sincere leadership could address the tribal issue as government did nothing to resolve problems of tribesmen. He said that the proposed march of PTI to Waziristan would play important role in establishment of peace in the region.

Mr Afridi said arrangements were finalised to provide facilities to the participants of the peace march, scheduled for October 6. He said that they wanted to restore peace in the tribal areas by holding the march.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Zafar said that silence of government over drone attacks was a matter of grave concern. He said that drone attacks were against the sovereignty of the country.

Mr Daud told the press conference that tribal people wanted peace and stability as they were not in favour of settling issues through force.

The steps being taken by the government, he said, were insufficient to remove sense of deprivation among tribal people.

“We will not allow anyone to impose decisions on us at the behest of foreign forces. We will strongly resist foreign aggression,” added.

Meanwhile, PTI chief organiser from Waziristan Agency Bashir Khan told a separate press conference that peace march of his party would rid tribal people of drone attacks.

He said the tribesmen were peace loving and patriotic people, who protected the borders of the country without getting any benefit.

Flanked by Fakhar Alam Mohmand, Javed Afridi, Dr Khalil Bajuari and Khan Rehman Afridi, Mr Khan said that Fata reforms were a mere drama and a cosmetic step.