“Plans are being chalked out to extend the sit-in protest campaign to other parts of the country, particularly to block all the routes leading to Afghanistan, and a large number of tribal elders will participate in the protest,” said Sardar Ajmal Khan Wazir, a chieftain of Wazir tribe, while talking to The News.

“If the US did not stop the drone attacks, we will contact important leaders of all political parties to block all routes leading to Afghanistan for a complete halt of the Nato supplies through the Pakistani soil,” he warned.

Giving details of his contacts with the politicians from the tribal areas as well as Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F, the Wazir leader said the JUI-F chief had assured his participation in the protest as well as promised to extend all help to the tribal people affected by the drone attacks.

He said that the JUI-F has directed Nek Zaman, a former Fata JUI-F MNA, to extend full cooperation in the planned protest campaign. “Interestingly, I have won the support of Akhunzada Chattan, Bajaur Agency MNA, who supports the PPP,” Ajmal Khan Wazir said.

The chieftain of the Wazir tribe said they could stage a sit-in at the airports in Peshawar, Quetta and even in Islamabad to stop arrival of the Americans in Pakistan.“Special literature is being printed for participation of student organisations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We are also contacting the transporters to persuade them announce stoppage of transportation of Nato supplies from Karachi to Afghanistan,” he added.

When contacted, Akhunzada Chattan said: “I fully support the mission of Ajmal Khan Wazir and will join whatever mode of protest is planned wherever against the Americans. There is no bar on me from the leadership of my party with regard to participation of any protest against the US drone attacks,” he said.