Imran Khan interrogated by US immigration over drone stance
Pakistan cricketer turned politician Imran Khan waves to supporters at the start of a rally on the outskirts of Islamabad on October 6, 2012. Khan is leading western peace activists and local loyalists on a highly publicized march to Pakistan’s tribal belt in protest against US drone strikes.
Imran Khan, Pakistani cricketer-turned-leader, was reportedly pulled from his Toronto-New York flight Friday afternoon and questioned about his stance on drones.
Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) party, is well-known for his anti-US-drone stance.
He was in Canada Thursday to speak in Brampton, Ontario, before heading to New York to speak at a fundraising dinner, The Guardian reported.
He had also planned to protest US drones in Pakistan with a demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters, The Hindu reported.
More from GlobalPost: Imran Khan leads anti-drone march across Pakistan
The politician was reportedly interrogated by US Customs and Border Protection for about an hour.
However, the agency told the Toronto Sun they could not comment on any of their investigations due to privacy laws.
On Friday, Khan tweeted:
And not long after:
Imran Khan led a two-day-long protest earlier this month on a march across Pakistan the tribal district of South Waziristan in protest of the US' use of drones in the region. He was joined by thousands of people, including a group of American activists, France 24 reported.
He is campaigning for Pakistan's presidency ahead of general elections, which will take place next year, and putting a stop to the drone program is a key part of his platform.
There is no paywall on the story you just read because a community of dedicated listeners and readers have contributed to keep the global news you rely on free and accessible for all. Will you join the 226 donors who have supported The World so far? From now until Dec. 31, your gift will help us unlock a $67,000 match. Donate today to double your impact!