You posted recently about Imran Khan, the Pakistani cricketer turned politician. In that post you wrote: "Khan like Dr. Paul is against foreign aid to Pakistan and U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan." I thought you might be interested in this France24 piece of today (Saturday 27th):
Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan (centre) said he was detained by US immigration officials Friday on a flight to New York via Canada, where he was questioned over his outspoken views on American drone strikes in his home country [...]
Khan, leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party (PTI), has campaigned vociferously for an end to the controversial US campaign of missile strikes against suspected Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal areas.
He argues they are illegal and counterproductive and earlier this month he led thousands of supporters -- and a group of American peace activists -- on a march to the edge of the restive tribal districts to protest against drones.
Khan, who was headed to New York, said he was stopped by US officials in Toronto on Friday.
"I was taken off from plane and interrogated by US Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop," he wrote on Twitter.
What the hell is US Immigration doing in Toronto?
ReplyDeleteIn 1980s I lived in Canada. Once I was going to Asia via JFK. US immigration checked my papers at the Toronto airport. In 2007 when I was coming back to USA, US immigarion checked my papers in Dubai.
DeleteDissent is not permitted.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/10/2012102775156110110.html
ReplyDeleteKhan said the delay meant he missed his flight and a party fundraising lunch in New York, but insisted "nothing will change my stance".
Such base intimidation tactics reveal the utter nakedness of the emperor. My time from my activist youth has come back to me. I have faced these goons as they froth at the mouth and yawn or chuckle at their bluster. It really gets them when I calmly ask: "OK, are you done now?"
ReplyDeleteThis is quite unnecessary and counter-productive. Imran Khan was a great cricketer before going into politics and well-liked. The secular and very popular editor-in-chief of a leading newspaper in Bangladesh and a famous actor from India were detained and interrogated for hours. These stories do not create goodwill in their countries. Of course, some may say who cares what those millons in strange countries think of us.
DeleteUS officials operating in Canadian airports..So full of win!.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't like his politics and activism, why not just refuse him a visa? Just because someone tries to come onto the US in open daylight, doesn't mean that we don't have some choice in his attendance. Otherwise, why bother to have visas and passports.
ReplyDeleteWe?
Deleteif some americans invited him,it is none of the US govt's business to stop him from coming.it is not the govt's business to determine who should be your guests.in this case the US govt has only further shown that it is no different from any tin pot vidictive dictator -as if anybody didnt know that earlier.the sheeple should stop worshipping the state.
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