DHAKA: Thousands of demonstrators protesting US drone strikes on Saturday blocked a main road in Peshawar used to truck Nato troop supplies and equipment in and out of Afghanistan.

The protest was led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and his party, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) along with their allies in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government.

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad (AJIP) also confirmed their participation.

‘We are here to give a clear message that now Pakistanis cannot remain silent over drone attacks,’ Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a senior member of the PTI, said in a speech to the protesters, reports dawn.com.

Party workers of the PTI and JI had arrived in the provincial capital from across the country.

According to some estimates, around 10,000 people participated in Saturday’s protest.

The protesters shouted anti-US slogans, such as ‘Down with America’ and ‘Stop drone attacks’.

Strict security arrangements were put in place by the provincial government, including deployment of over 500 police personnel to ensure safety and order. Transporters were directed to use alternative routes.

‘I am participating in today’s sit-in to convey a message to America that we hate them since they are killing our people in drone attacks,’ said Hussain Shah, a 21-year-old university student.

‘America must stop drone attacks for peace in our country.’

The US Embassy in Islamabad declined to comment on the protest at the present time.

BDST: 2016 HRS, NOV 23, 2013