Campaigners from the anti-war group Code Pink, are visiting Pakistan to make contact with people affected by the drone strikes and draw the attention of the American public to the impact of attacks.

organised in conjunction with a British advocacy group, the rally is to take place today in one of the Pakistani capital's busiest market places. The protesters will recite anti-drone chants, wear bright pink clothes and carry banners.

Pink protest: American anti-war group Code Pink will hold a demonstration in Pakistan against U.S. drone attacks

(pictured is a campaigner)

Medea Benjamin, one of the group’s founders said yesterday: ‘We are here to say, on behalf of those Americans with a conscience, that we apologize to the people of Pakistan for the killing and suffering (caused by the drones).’

The drone strike program in Pakistan has a controversial history, with conflicting reports on its impact from the U.S. government, Pakistani officials and independent organisations.

American officials insist that the choice and execution of the strikes, which begun under former President George W. Bush and escalated under President Barack Obama, meet strict standards and that civilian deaths or injuries are extremely rare.

Drone attacks are said to have killed far more people than the United States acknowledges, traumatised innocent residents and been largely ineffective according to a study released last month by Stanford Law School and New York University's School of Law. Civilians account for a significant portion of those killed, the study said.

Highlight attacks: Code Pink want to draw attention to the impact where drone attacks occur (pictured is the site of a 2008 attack) which are given conflicting reports on their impact by American, Pakistani and independent organisations

'Apologize': American protesters will join demonstrations in Pakistan against U.S. drone attacks to 'apologize to the people of Pakistan for the killing and suffering'

(pictured is a U.S. unmanned predator drone)

 

The drone program is deeply unpopular in Pakistan, where the national parliament voted in April to end any authorization for it.

Code Pink's demonstration on Friday is the precursor to a bigger, more ambitious protest over drone strikes in which the group plans to participate over the weekend.

Pakistani politician Imran Khan insisted the march to the country’s restive tribal areas, where Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants have strongholds, will happen as planned despite security fears and doubts over whether authorities would allow it.

Western journalists and anti-drone campaigners will join political party Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaaf or Pakistan Movement for Justice (PIT), headed by Mr Khan, in a convoy from Islamabad to South Waziristan at the weekend to protest against U.S. drone strikes.

The march, which includes the British head of charity Reprieve Clive Stafford Smith and 30 American anti-drone campaigners, plan to visited areas where access is strictly controlled by Pakistan and independent access for foreigners is banned.

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