Imran Khan asks Pak govt. to halt Swat military operation

Lahore, Oct.4 (ANI): Cricketer turned politician Imran Khan has once again asked the Pakistan government to stop the military operation in Swat and Malakand Divisions, and said the issue could be resolved through dialogue.

Addressing a meeting of the party workers, Khan said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) supports the country's armed forces, but the military operation in the valley should be discontinued immediately in order to restore peace in the region.

Referring to a recent video footage, which showed an elderly man being brutally beaten by the some Pakistan Army soldiers, Khan asked Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to take stern action against those involved in the incident.

"We stood by our Army and completely supported it but we opposed the use of force. Cruelty can never be justified whether it was done by the Taliban or the government," The News quoted Khan, as saying.

Expressing unity with the Baloch people, Khan said the PTI would observe October 9 as Balochistan Day and he would himself visit the insurgency hit province on that day. (ANI)